Bengals claim former Falcons first-rounder Takk McKinley

Takk McKinley has a new home in the NFL 

McKinley might not be heading to a contender, but at least he’ll have a chance to rebound elsewhere. Despite limited production with the Atlanta Falcons, perhaps his new home in the Jungle will help him earn that massive payday.

According to The MMQB’s Albert Breer, McKinley was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday afternoon. The team later confirmed the addition of the former defensive end joining their staff for the remainder of the 2020 season.

McKinley’s time in Atlanta seemed to be coming to a close following an arrangement of tweets earlier this month. Days after tweeting the team would not be trading the former first-rounder, McKinley tweeted that the franchise turned down fifth- and sixth-round draft pick offers from multiple teams despite his request to be traded.

Several days later, he was put on waivers. Earlier this season, Atlanta elected not to pick up his fifth-year option worth $10.3 million.

Is McKinley a good fit for Who Day nation?

Overall, there are worse places for McKinley to land since the Bengals will need help on their defensive line. Before the NFL trade deadline, the team traded long-time defensive end Carlos Dunlap to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2021 seventh-round pick and offensive lineman BJ Finney. Much like McKinley, Dunlap made it clear his time in Cincinnati was over via social media.

Dunlap’s overall production with the Bengals was limited in 2020 to begin the year. In seven games, he tallied 18 tackles and one sack to go along with four quarterback hits. McKinley, who missed the past two games because of a groin injury and illness, played in only 81 snaps with the Falcons prior to his departure. He registered eight tackles, seven quarterback hits and one sack in four games.

There’s little expectation for McKinley, 25, to change the 2-5-1 Bengals, but at least he offers another name to the pass rush entering the second half of the season. Who knows? Maybe he can cut a deal with Dunlap and even move into his old house to save a step in the moving process?