The New York Jets have begun their mandatory minicamp; with their future Hall of Fame quarterback & Haason Reddick absent on day one. While absences have been seen across the league, it’s not an encouraging sign when your 40-year-old quarterback displays such a lack of accountability to miss a mandatory practice. While dealing with that, they have made some additions to the roster this week. Most notably, former 2017 first-round pick Takkarist McKinley. McKinley spent the previous season in Dallas recovering from a torn Achilles in 2022.
After the John Franklin-Meyers trade, there will be opportunities on the defensive line this season. Haason Reddick will need a breather and Takkarist McKinley can capitalize. His tenure with Atlanta makes him a perfect backup due to his experience with the coaching staff. If he regained that pre-injury athleticism, this can be a steal for New York.
Jets Sign Former First-Round Pick for Defensive Depth
Despite his efforts to take attention away, Aaron Rodgers is not nearly as important to New York’s chances this season. While their dilapidated offense will leave mental scars, the Jets’ premier defense put on a historic display. Striving to reach new heights, Joe Douglas made the trade for Haason Reddick to let Quinnen Williams wreak havoc on the interior. But, another important factor is depth. Javon Kinlaw will be a serviceable rotation defensive tackle for the interior. Joe Douglas has now added another veteran edge rusher in Takkarist McKinley.
Takkarist McKinley
On June 13th, 2024, the New York Jets signed edge rusher Takkarist McKinley. McKinley is entering his eighth season in the NFL. After earning first-team All-Pac 12 honors his final season at UCLA, McKinley was selected 27th overall in the 2017 draft. Head Coach Dan Quinn hoped McKinley would be the last piece to help the Falcons win their first Super Bowl after losing to New England in Super Bowl 51. Despite early flashes, McKinley wasn’t able to curb the downward spiral in Atlanta. Despite recording seven sacks in 2018, the rest of Atlanta took a step back. McKinley’s attempts for a trade failed after Atlanta denied previous trade requests. McKinley was released in November of the 2020 season. He finished the rest of the season in Las Vegas with the Raiders.
In 2021, McKinley took his talents to Cleveland. He capitalized on the opportunity with a big win over the Ravens in Week 14. The veteran edge rusher finished the game with two tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble; allowing Cleveland to beat Baltimore 24-22. Alas, McKinley failed to enjoy the game as he suffered a torn Achilles shortly after. He has since spent the past two seasons in Dallas on the Cowboys practice squad. He rehabbed his ankle with the help of his former head coach Dan Quinn.
How McKinley helps the Jets
While his tenure in Atlanta ended prematurely, there is still a place in the league for him. The Jets front seven has been the heart & soul of this defensive revival. A team loaded with talented linemen who can get to the quarterback, McKinstry will rotate in certain plays to give Haason Reddick, Jermaine Johnson, or Will McDonald a breather. McKinstry’s value will shine in the practice room. Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald are still early in their development. McKinstry will push them to gain a better grasp of the playbook. McKinstry is the perfect buffer for defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Ulbrich served as the linebackers coach in Atlanta during McKinstry’s tenure. Their shared experience offers a lot of knowledge to pass on to young linemen.
Takkarist McKinstry won’t light up the stat sheet, but serves a purpose on this roster. He should bode well helping to mentor this young line along with Haason Reddick. If it allows Reddick, Johnson, McDonald, and more to stay healthy while playing a series, it’s a worthy investment.
Main Photo: [Ken Blaze] – USA Today Sports
