Takkarist McKinley, a 2017 first-round pick who had 13 sacks in his first two NFL seasons, has agreed to terms on a deal with the Browns.
Here are five things to know about Cleveland's newest edge rusher addition to the defensive line.
1. McKinley, the 26th overall pick in the 2017 draft, has spent most of his four NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He's appeared in 49 games and has recorded 17.5 sacks, 79 tackles — 22 of them went for a loss — and 45 quarterback hits. At 6-foot-2 and 265 pounds, McKinley, 25, still has room to enter his prime and can provide a big boost to the Browns' 2021 defensive line.
2. McKinley began his college career at the JUCO level at Contra Costa College, where his 10-sack freshman season earned him an opportunity to transfer to UCLA. He totaled six sacks in his first two seasons with the Bruins and broke out as a senior when he plowed through offensive lines for a 10-sack season. He entered the 2017 draft widely projected as a top-5 defensive end and landed with the Falcons, who traded up to draft McKinley and help him fulfill his promise he made to his grandmother moments before she passed away in 2011. McKinley carried a picture of her on stage after the draft pick was announced.
3. McKinley's production was on an upward trajectory during his first two NFL seasons. After notching six sacks and two forced fumbles as a rookie, he recorded a career-best seven sacks and 15 quarterback hits in 2018. He racked up 2.5 sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4 that season and ended the year as the Falcons' sack leader.
4. The Falcons declined to pick up the fifth-year option for McKinley after his 2019 season, when he accrued 3.5 sacks and was placed on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury in Week 15. He played in only four games in 2020 and was waived by Atlanta in November. The San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals each claimed McKinley, but he never officially joined the teams after he failed physicals due to a groin injury. The Las Vegas Raiders ultimately signed McKinley, but he never played in a game and spent the season on Injured Reserve.
5. The Browns reportedly attempted to claim McKinley off waivers three times last season. With the departures of Adrian Clayborn and pending free agency of Olivier Vernon — two defensive ends who played the majority of snaps opposite Myles Garrett last season — the Browns had a sizable hole to fill on the other end of the defensive line this offseason. McKinley is a young edge rusher for the Browns, who made McKinley their second defensive addition of the offseason after reaching an agreement with safety John Johnson III. Now, they'll attempt to put McKinley back on track to the same level of success he found at the beginning of his career.
Check out photos of defensive end Takk McKinley
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) sits on the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Takkarist McKinley (98) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum (7) in a week 13 NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 in Atlanta. (Mike Zarrilli/AP Images for Panini, via AP)
UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley reacts after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) works during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. The Detroit Lions won 23-22. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) reaches for Seattle Seahawks running back Travis Homer (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Atlanta. The Seattle Seahawks won 38-25. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) greets fans before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) sacks New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) celebrtates a tackle against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) poses for a photo on May 14, 2019, in Atlanta. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) celebrates a sack during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Sep. 6, 2018, in Philadelphia. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) warms up before of an NFL preseason football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Atlanta Falcons' Takkarist McKinley takes questions from the media during the team's NFL football rookie minicamp in Flowery Branch, Ga., Friday, May 12, 2017. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) sets up for a play during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley (98) sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL preseason football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
UCLA defensive end Takkarist Mckinley runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
UCLA defensive lineman Takkarist McKinley, right, hits Oregon State quarterback Marcus McMaryion as he throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
UCLA defensive lineman Takkarist McKinley (98) stands on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
UCLA defensive end Takkarist Mckinley runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
