The Browns agreed to terms with Takk McKinley after losing three claims on him last season. (USA Today)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from the second day of NFL free agency …
Somebody in the Browns’ building really likes Takk McKinley.
Three times last year the Browns put in a waiver claim on the 25-year-old defensive end after the Atlanta Falcons waived him.
They lost out to the Bengals, who failed him on their physical, and then to the 49ers, who failed him on their physical, and then to the Raiders. The Raiders passed McKinley but put him on injured reserve. He made it back to the practice field, but didn’t play in a game.
Now that McKinley was free to sign as an unrestricted free agent, the Browns went back to the well and reportedly agreed to a one-year deal for $4.25 million.
So after getting priced out of the top defensive ends on the first day of free agency, GM Andrew Berry showed uncharacteristic haste and plucked McKinley from the bargain bin.
It’s a low-risk, possibly high-return move.
McKinley has flashed some of the talent that made him the Falcons’ first-round pick (No. 26 overall) in 2017. He had 13 sacks his first two seasons, and then dropped off to 3.5 and one. Prior to McKinley’s fourth season, the Falcons declined to pick up his fifth-year option.
McKinley’s fourth season was ugly. He asked to be traded in October, and then took his case to social media, claiming the Falcons turned down a second-round pick for him.
The Falcons waived him shortly thereafter.
In 49 games, McKinley has 17.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one recovery.
The signing of McKinley, which won’t be official until the NFL league year opens at 4 p.m., means he will get first crack at the vacancy at left end created by the imminent departure of Olivier Vernon. But it doesn’t preclude another bargain-bin addition at the position or the Browns using a high pick in the draft for a defensive end.
The competition for now includes McKinley, Porter Gustin, Joe Jackson, Cameron Malveaux and Curtis Weaver.
Cornerbacks wanted
Cornerback Terrance Mitchell became the third Browns free agent to leave for another team when he agreed to a two-year deal for $7.5 million with the Houston Texans. On Monday, offensive tackle Kendall Lamm agreed with Tennessee and defensive tackle Vincent Taylor agreed with Houston.
Mitchell started every game in place of injured Greedy Williams and led all Browns defensive players with 1,071 snaps in 2020. His departure, not unexpected, exacerbates the Browns’ need at cornerback.
The only ones under contract are Williams, Denzel Ward and M.J. Stewart.
Through the first two days of the free agent negotiating period, 15 cornerbacks have come off the market.
Among the unsigned are Patrick Peterson (Arizona), Malcolm Butler (Tennessee), A.J. Bouye (Denver), Casey Hayward (L.A. Chargers), Desmond Trufant (Detroit), Richard Sherman (San Francisco), Brian Poole (Jets), Xavier Rhodes (Indianapolis), Gareon Conley (Houston), K’Waun Williams (San Francisco), and Troy Hill (Rams).
And there is the continuing belief that Patriots still want to trade Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 NFL defensive player-of-the-year, who is under contract for about $7.5 million.