The pass rush has come alive in recent weeks for the Los Angeles Rams, but you can never have too many guys who can get after the quarterback. Despite having four guys who play meaningful snaps at outside linebacker, the Rams shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to add another.
On Monday, the Falcons waived former first-round pick Takk McKinley. This comes after the team fielded (and turned down) trade offers for the edge rusher, which McKinley took exception to. He tweeted details of the trades Atlanta declined, ending his message with clown emojis.
It wasn’t an amicable split between McKinley and the Falcons, but that doesn’t matter much to the Rams, who have a chance to add the promising young pass rusher to their defense. That chance isn’t great, however, because McKinley is subject to waivers.
The Rams sit 22nd in the waiver order this week, which means if any of the 21 teams ahead of them submit a claim on McKinley, Los Angeles will not be awarded its claim. The Cowboys, for instance, liked McKinley in the 2017 draft and sit third in the waiver order; it’s possible they will try to claim him, as could the Jets at the top of the waiver order.
McKinley has only played four games this season and hasn’t played a full 16-game schedule since his rookie year in 2017, but the traits and talent are there. He had 6.0 sacks in his first season and 7.0 in Year 2, improving in nearly every key category. His numbers dropped off in 2019, however, with just 3.5 sacks – though he did have a career-high 29 tackles and tied a career-best with seven tackles for loss.
Earlier this season, former Falcons coach Dan Quinn said McKinley reminded him of Dante Fowler Jr., who thrived with the Rams.
I asked then-Falcons HC Dan Quinn about Takk McKinley during Week 2: He said McKinley was lighter and faster and that had shown up on film. He compared him physically to Dante Fowler as super-tough, fast edge rushers.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 9, 2020
If the Rams are somehow awarded McKinley off waivers, he’d join a rotation that includes Terrell Lewis, Justin Hollins and Samson Ebukam opposite Leonard Floyd. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is currently on IR but could return soon, which adds greater depth to the group.
McKinley’s current contract would carry over to the Rams, which means he’d be a free agent after this season, while his base salary in 2020 is $1.86 million. Los Angeles doesn’t have much to lose by submitting a claim, even if the chances of him slipping are slim.
