The Ravens, Chargers may sign Jets cut defensive end Takkarist McKinley before the 2024 NFL Playoffs next month. The postseason is around the corner so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if contenders decide to make a few moves from the free-agent market to load up on depth. According to one report, the New York Jets are officially waiving McKinkley from their practice squad after spending the majority of the year proving he still has a spark. Originally selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the veteran was going to earn a new contract but the Atlanta Falcons released him in the final year of his rookie year.
McKinley became a journeyman after signing short-team contracts with the Bengals and 49ers but he never found his rhythm. The Las Vegas Raiders brought him in but McKinley never saw the field after his release from Atlanta. However, it doesn’t surprise many that Jets are making moves to release some pieces before the season is over since they’re out of playoff contention. After the Aaron Rodgers, several Jets fans should brace themselves for a complete rebuild.
McKinley might have something in the tank for any defense looking for depth but they’re no team will sign him to the 53-man roster. The veteran will have to earn his spot but it shouldn’t be long before he finds a new home. Several defenses are looking for depth at a cheap cost so McKinley might find a spot at the last minute for the upcoming postseason. The Ravens, Chargers could take a chance on McKinley to see what he could do in their rotational pass-rushing units.
Ravens, Chargers May Sign Jets Cut Defensive End Takkarist McKinley
Offense Outweighing the Defense
It’s fair to say the Baltimore Ravens offense has been holding down the majority of the workload to keep the team intact. After signing Derrick Henry, it only made Lamar Jackson and several offensive pieces better for the longevity of moving the wheel while it was a huge momentum booster. However, the team never made a huge change this past offseason on the defensive side despite losing several key free agents like Jadeveon Clowney. It helped opposing quarterbacks they go up against comfortably in the pocket, especially with the depleting secondary the Ravens have despite the talent.
While they won’t ever make up for the atrocious secondary, they might have to resort to signing McKinley to improve the pass rush. With this, they could make quarterbacks a living hell and give the Ravens secondary a chance to find their rhythm. David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh have shown they could be great but the postseason is a different ballgame and due to inexperience, it might catch up to them. Kyle Van Noy and Roquan Smith struggle with balance so the Ravens might need to bring in McKinley as veteran insurance to provide some stability in the backend.
Jim Harbaugh’s Blueprint
Nobody loves winning in the trenches with a physically hard-hitting defense than Jim Harbaugh. Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack will become free agents after this season and while this might be their legitimate chance to make some noise this postseason, the chances of that might be short. They still have a struggling running game with J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards dealing with injuries once again. While McKinley won’t have much of an impact, he could give some relief as a rotational pass rusher.
The Los Angeles Chargers still have a strong defense that could make something out of nothing in their secondary game. However, they’ve struggled this season putting an offensive player on the ground and maybe someone like McKinley could come in and fix that. It’s no guarantee but it might work since Jesse Minter’s vision has been working for the majority of this defense.
The post Ravens, Chargers May Sign Jets Cut Defensive End appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.