CLEVELAND, OHIO — The fourth time was the charm.
The Browns put in three waiver claims on defensive end Takk McKinley last season, but never got him. They landed him this time around, agreeing to terms Tuesday on a one-year deal worth $4.25 million with the fifth-year free agent from the Raiders. He can make up to $6 million with bonuses and incentives.
McKinley, 25, became expendable for the Raiders on Monday when they agreed on a two-year deal with former Ravens edge-rusher Yannick Ngakoue worth a guaranteed $26 million. Ngakoue, whom the Browns tried to trade for last season, was on their radar again this offseason.
He’s the second free agent the defender the Browns have agreed to terms with since the negotiating period opened on Monday. The first was former Rams safety John Johnson, who was their No. 1 target in free agency.
McKinley isn’t the big-name edge-rusher most thought the Browns would sign in free agency, but they hope he can get his career back on track here. On the first day of the negotiating period, they watched high-end pass-rushers such as Shaq Barrett, Carl Lawson, Ngakoue, Bud Dupree, Trey Hendrickson, Matt Judon and Romeo Okwara fly off the market.
The No. 26 overall pick by the Falcons in 2017 out of UCLA, McKinley fell out of favor with Atlanta, and they waived him Nov. 11. The Browns put a waiver claim on him then, and after he failed physicals with the Bengals and 49ers over the next week because of a groin injury.
He was ultimately claimed by the Raiders on Nov. 23, and placed on injured reserve Nov. 27. He was designated for return Dec. 15th, but Raiders coach Jon Gruden said announced on Dec. 20th that he wouldn’t be activated. Gruden also said last season that McKinley, 25, was a big part of the Raiders’ future, but they opted not to re-sign him when Ngakoue came on board.
He comes to Cleveland with 17.5 sacks in his four seasons, and a little bit of baggage. He didn’t start as a rookie, but played in all 16 games, recording six sacks, which was fourth in the NFL among rookies that year and second on the Falcons to Adrian Clayborn, who was released by the Browns last week.
McKinley notched a career-high three sacks in a loss to the Bengals Week 4 of the 2018 season, but finished the year with only four more sacks for a team-high total of seven. He finally became a full-time starter in 2019, but recorded only 3.5 sacks that season.
When the season was over, the Falcons declined to pick up his fifth-year option. He dropped 20 pounds in the offseason, saying the option-snub ‘lit a fire’ under 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 wasn’t hungry in the past, but I’ve just got to go prove it.”
In November of 2020, McKinley went public with his request to be traded on Twitter, claiming that the Falcons turned down a second-round pick for him and other offers. Interim coach Raheem Morris told reporters that “Takk will definitely be held accountable for his actions, and everything that goes along with it.” The Falcon waived him shortly thereafter.
Browns GM Andrew Berry has had his sights on McKinely since he scouted Garrett and other edge-rushers in the 2017 draft. If the Browns can coach another seven-sack season out of McKinley, the $4 million will be worth it.
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