Browns will sign defensive end Takk McKinley

Mar 17, 2021

The Browns are signing former Raiders defensive end Takk McKinley that he really wanted him.  He put in three waiver claims on him last season, but never got him. He also may have tried to trade for him before the deadline in November. But this time, he got his man, agreeing to terms with him Tuesday on a one-year deal worth $4.25 million. With bonuses and incentives, the deal can max out at $6 million.

An unrestricted free agent, McKinley became expendable Monday when the Raiders 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.

McKinley, 25, is 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. They gave him a three-year deal worth $33.75 million, including $24 million guaranteed.
McKinley (6-2, 265) 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 for anywhere from $13 million a year to $17 million.

The No. 26 overall pick by the Falcons in 2017 out of UCLA, McKinley fell out of favor with Atlanta over the past two seasons, and they waived him Nov. 11. The Browns put a waiver claim on him then, and again after he failed physicals with the Bengals and 49ers over the next week because of a groin injury suffered early on in the season.