The Lions have agreed to sign free agent pass rusher Takkarist McKinley on a four-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Chiefs released the budding star in order for him to negotiate with other NFL teams and he is expected to hold out until he gets what he wants – or at least something close.
McKinley has drawn comparisons from scouts and teammates alike due of his playmaking ability off the edge as well as his unique combination of size (6 foot 3 inches) and speed (4.38 40 yard dash), which make him a special player that can get around offensive tackles with ease but also power through them if need be. Alongside Trey Flowers, McKinley could immediately become one of Matthew Stafford’s best weapons next season — and potentially take Detroit back into playoff contention after failing last year despite having Calvin Johnson healthy again
In 2019, Getty Takkarist McKinley is a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Detroit Lions still have a lot of gaps to fill on their roster, and free agency is still going on for the club, even if the draft is coming up soon.
More well-placed acquisitions might help the Lions fill out their roster for the future, and with signings reducing, there are still players available on the market that could help the Lions enhance their squad this offseason.
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David Kenyon of Bleacher Report compiled a list of all the greatest free agency fits for clubs throughout the league among players remaining. When it came to Detroit, Kenyon highlighted Takkerist McKinley as an intriguing name because of the boost he might bring the team’s pass rush when healthy.
“Regardless of McKinley’s Achilles rehab timeframe, he might start 2022 on the disabled list.” “Detroit can be patient and hope for a late-season boost to the pass-rush corps,” Kenyon wrote in the essay.
McKinley would be a good match for the Lions since he is young and would provide the organization with the sort of short-term potential they are searching for. He’s also coming off an injury, so if things go well, he may be considered a valuable asset.
The Lions’ pass rush might need some help.
The Lions have spent the summer bolstering their roster, but the defensive line is one area where they haven’t done much work. Charles Harris was re-signed to the edge position by Detroit, which was noteworthy considering his 7.5 sacks and leadership role last season. Aside from that, the Lions haven’t done much to improve the situation on the outside. This coming season, they will welcome back Romeo Okwara from injury, which will be a significant help to their depth at the position. Despite this, the Lions will want to see if they can add to their squad via free agency or the draft.
Detroit is expected to use their second-overall selection to acquire a pass rusher, but adding a player like McKinley might help the club discover the sort of depth they need while also enabling them to be more open in the NFL draft.
McKinley’s Career Stats & Highlights
McKinley, a former first-round choice out of UCLA in 2017, entered the league with high hopes and a lot of hype about his potential to be a star. That didn’t happen right away for him, prompting some to declare McKinley a failure. He has just 97 tackles and 20 total sacks in his NFL career. He wanted to get out of Atlanta, so he flew to Las Vegas, where he was unable to play due to injury. McKinley inked a contract with Cleveland in 2021, but he only has 1.5 sacks this season.
Here’s a sampling of McKinley’s greatest on-field work:
Watch a video A video about a former first-round selection defense known as a free agent who can assist the Lions. 2022-04-15T09:43:55-04:00
McKinley was one of the most explosive rushers in college, so he has a proven track record. It’s unclear if he’ll be able to return to that level, but according to some analysts, the Lions might be a squad that can help him do so. Many people feel they should relocate.
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