CLEVELAND, OHIO – The fourth time was the charm.
The Browns claimed three concessions on Takk McKinley last season, but never got him. They landed him this time and agreed to set up a $ 4.25 million one-year deal with the Raiders’ fifth-year free agent on Tuesday. He can earn up to $ 6 million with bonuses and incentives.
McKinley, 25, issued for the Raiders on Monday when they agreed to a two-year deal with former Ravens edge-rusher Yannick Ngakoue worth a guaranteed $ 26 million. Ngakoue, for whom the Browns tried to trade last season, was on their radar again this season.
He is the second free agent the defender has agreed with the Browns since the negotiation period opened on Monday. The first was former Rams safety John Johnson, who was their number 1 target in free agency.
McKinley is not the main forward most thought the Browns would sign a free agency, but they are hoping he can get his career back on track here. On the first day of the negotiation period, they watched high-pass passers like Shaq Barrett, Carl Lawson, Ngakoue, Bud Dupree, Trey Hendrickson, Matt Judon and Romeo Okwara fly off the market.
The Falcons’ overall No. 26 pick in 2017 from UCLA, McKinley fell out of favor with Atlanta, and they parted ways with him. 11 November. 49ers next week due to a groin injury.
He was finally claimed by the Raiders on November 23 and placed in the injured reserve on November 27. He was scheduled to return on December 15, but Raiders coach Jon Gruden said on December 20 that he would not be activated. Gruden also said last season that McKinley, 25, was a big part of the Raiders’ future, but they decided not to sign him again when Ngakoue came on board.
He comes to Cleveland with 17.5 bags in his four seasons and some baggage. He did not start as a rookie, but played in all 16 games and picked up six bags, which was fourth in the NFL that year among the rookies and second on the Hawks of Adrian Clayborn, who was released by the Browns last week.
McKinley recorded a career high of three bags in a loss for the Bengals Week 4 of the 2018 season, but ended the year with just four bags left for a total of seven in the team. He eventually became a full-time appetizer in 2019, but scored only 3.5 bags that season.
When the season was over, the Falcons did not want to take his fifth-year option. He dropped 20 pounds in the off-season, saying the option snub ‘lit a fire’ beneath him.
“It was a wake-up call,” McKinley said during training camp via the Falcons official website. “It was more motivation, it made me hungry. I’m not saying I was not hungry before, but I just have to go prove it. ”
In November 2020, McKinley made public with his request to be traded on Twitter, claiming that the Hawks had turned down a second round for him and other offers. Interim coach Raheem Morris told reporters that “Takk will definitely be held accountable for his actions and all that goes with it.” The Falcon resigned from him shortly thereafter.
Browns, GM Berry, has had his sights set on McKinely since exploring Garrett and other forerunners in the 2017 concept. If the Browns can coach another season of McKinley, the $ 4 million is worth it.
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