Bengals Claim Former Disgruntled Falcon Takk McKinley

Defensive end Takk McKinley has found a new home, but when it comes to on-field success, it's not much better than his last one.

McKinley's new team is the Cincinnati Bengals, who claimed him off waivers Wednesday. The reason McKinley was on waivers is because the Atlanta Falcons released him.

The Falcons' decision to do so came less than a week after McKinley complained that they had several chances to trade him but didn't.

Clearly, none of that matters to the Bengals. When you're playing for little beyond another high draft pick, you can afford to take some risks.

And let's not forget, there was a time not long ago that people expected McKinley to be a difference-maker. He was the 26th overall pick of the 2017 draft, and the Falcons had some high hopes for him.

But McKinley didn't produce, playing only 81 snaps this season and recording just one sack.

He's in the fourth and final year of his contract, so if it doesn't work out this season, the sides can easily part ways.

In that sense, this can be considered a good move for the Bengals. They have nothing to lose, other than maybe some more games as they build around rookie quarterback Joe Burrow.

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.