Jacksonville Jaguars: Arguments to support acquiring Takkarist McKinley

The Jacksonville Jaguars could use some help in their defensive front.

A team can’t have enough pass-rushers. In fact, every squad needs more than one. This is true for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are currently struggling to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Acquiring former Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Takkarist McKinley would help them fix that.

When it comes to the 2020 Jaguars, there are some positives to talk about. However, their defensive line isn’t one of them. This year, the group has been a liability and one of the reasons why the team has allowed at least 30 points in six of their eight games.

Although rookie defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is quickly becoming a key cog in the team’s front four, and Doug Costin is slowly getting his role increased, there Jaguars are having a hard time applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks.

Their best edge defense, Josh Allen, hasn’t been himself in2020 due to injuries. Rookie defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson has had difficulties carving a niche in the team’s defensive line and Dawuane Smooth is solid but unspectacular.

All in all, the Jaguars have registered eight sacks, dead last in the league. Also, they rank 25th in rushing touchdowns allowed with 11. They simply aren’t generating enough push at the line of scrimmage and that has to change.

This is where Takkarist McKinley could help the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Falcons chose Takkarist McKinley with the 26th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft hoping he would become a fixture in the team’s front-seven. Instead, the team has decided to pull the plug on the UCLA standout after less than four years.

Before the November 3 deadline, the Falcons were talking with other teams about possibly moving McKinley, but a trade never materialized. After learning that he wouldn’t leave Atlanta, the former Bruins defender went into a social media tirade.

The Falcons’ brass didn’t appreciate McKinley’s way to voice his displeasure and decided to part ways with him by making him the subject of waivers. Since the Jaguars currently have the second-worst record in the NFL, they would have a chance to claim him if the New York Jets, who have the worst record in the league, aren’t interested in him.

McKinley played in 79 games and started 25 of them in his tenure in Atlanta. He recorded 17.5 sacks and 79 total tackles in that time. While those aren’t earth-shattering numbers, the Jaguars need an infusion of talent in their defensive line.

The ‘Jags’ could take McKinley as a reclamation project. It’s not as if the linebacker stop being talented coming out of UCLA. Maybe he just wasn’t a good fit for what the Falcons were trying to do. If this Jacksonville team really wants to find out what happened, they should acquire him.

After all, if McKinley thrives with the Jaguars, they could make him part of their long-term plans. If the addition doesn’t pan out, they can part ways with him without any repercussions, that’s why it makes sense for them to kick the tires on him.