Each year when new NFL players sign their rookie deals and get their first huge signing bonus, heartwarming stories emerge of players buying things for their loved ones and the people who helped them get to where they are.
On social media, video circulated of former Alabama star Kool-Aid McKinstry’s first big purchase.
The New Orleans Saints’ cornerback bought his mother a brand new, $140k Mercedes G-Wagon from the Birmingham dealership:
Awesome: #Saints rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry bought his mom a $140K G-Wagon for Mother's Day ❤️
He just signed a 4-year contract worth $9.02M, including a $3.4M signing bonus.pic.twitter.com/p7Ef6Vt1yL
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 13, 2024
McKinstry, who was a second round draft pick (No. 41 overall), signed his rookie deal which will pay him nearly $10 million over the first four years of his NFL career.
The kicker was the signing bonus, which gave McKinstry $3.4 million right out of the gate in his NFL career.
Playing during the NIL era, McKinstry has obviously been allowed to profit off his name. On3 estimated his NIL valuation to be just under $1 million, which is of course a tremendous amount of money.
But when players get to the NFL, especially as an early draft pick, money in college football still cannot even come close to competing with league money.
And McKinstry is taking care of the one who loves him most with his first big NFL check.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.