Jets bolster defense with signing of former 1st-round pick

Oct 2, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Jets helmets on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

With Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, CJ Mosley, and others already in tow, the New York Jets are adding yet another ex-first-round draft pick to their defense.

The Jets announced on Thursday that they have signed veteran edge rusher Takkarist “Takk” McKinley to a free-agent deal. McKinley, 28, had spent the last two seasons on the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys.

A first-round pick in 2017 (No. 26 overall), McKinley played the first four seasons of his career with the Atlanta Falcons. He then joined the Cleveland Browns and then the L.A. Rams as an active roster member. McKinley has also been a practice-squad member of the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, and finally the Cowboys.

With 20 career sacks and 98 combined tackles to his name, the 6-foot-2, 250-pound McKinley may be worth the dart throw. He will provide some additional depth on the right side of the defensive line, where the Jets currently have a notable player holding out.