Seahawks should trade for defensive end Takkarist McKinley
By Geoff Shull
Takkarist McKinley has accumulated 16.5 sacks across 3 seasons. So, why would the Falcons entertain a trade offer for him?
This is a multipart answer, its not really any one thing. The first and foremost would be his recent injury history. He ended his 2019 campaign on the injury reserve, due to a shoulder injury. This is the third surgery he has had on his shoulder dating back to his college days. The team is undoubtedly concerned about his injury history.
Another reason would be his lack of growth from year 1 to 3. During the 3 seasons, he transitioned from being a valuable rotational player to a starter. However, he failed to add any additional impact with the additional time on the field.
Takkarist McKinkley’s stats from 2017-2019:
Year: 2017 2018 2019
Sacks: 6 7 3.5
TFL: 5 1 4
Pressure %: 12.6% 11.4% 12.2%
Missed Tackle: 16.7% 20% 6.7%
FF: 3 0 0
A couple of items stand out to me. First, he has actually been a decent pressure guy. He is one of those players who collapses the pocket. Which in turn helps those around him create hard stats, like sacks. Second, he appears to be a well below average run defender. 10 total tackles for a loss across 550 run defending plays is horrendous.
The Falcons have elected to not pick up his 5th-year option. Which isn’t surprising. From what I tell, he is currently nothing more than a valuable rotational player right now. He generates a lot of pressure. However, he is not worth the hefty 5th-year price tag, right around the $10 million mark.
When I search ‘Takkarist McKinley’ online, nearly all the articles are about his lack of production, not his untapped potential. It is quite clear he has fallen out of favor with the Falcons media and fanbase. So, what would it take to get the Seahawks a do-over from the 2017 draft and trade for Takkarist McKinley?