Washington Redskins 2017 Draft Profiles: Takkarist McKinley, EDGE

Takkarist McKinley
School: UCLA | Conference: Pac-12
College Experience: Senior | Age: 21
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 265 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 1st Round
NFL Comparison: Melvin Ingram

College Statistics

Player Overview

Originally signed with Cal out of high school but failed to qualify due to poor grades - went to junior college for a year where he easily racked up 18 TFLs and 10 sacks, then transferred to UCLA.

“Tak” McKinley played sparingly his sophomore year at UCLA but started his junior and senior seasons, where he became arguably the best edge defender in the Pac-12. He made first-team All-Pac-12 as a senior behind 61 tackles (18 for loss), 10 sacks, 6 PBUs, and 3 FFs.

Strengths

• Great athleticism - fluid hips, strength, and burst allow to him easily change directions or power through offensive tackles
• Productive stand-up rusher bodes well for becoming a 3-4 OLB in the pros
• Relentless motor working against both the run and the pass; will chase down plays from across the field
• Always seems to be around the ball, strong desire to be a playmaker
• Has beginnings of both an effective bull rush as well as dip and bend around the corner

Weaknesses

• Very rudimentary hand usage - needs to develop finer skills at next level to be successful
• Can get easily redirected around the pocket by longer offensive tackles
• Most sacks the result of constant effort rather than overwhelming burst/power

News & Highlights

How He Would Fit on the Redskins

While edge rusher isn’t necessarily a dire need with Ryan Kerrigan, Trent Murphy, Preston Smith and Junior Galette on the roster, it is a premium position and Tak McKinley has Pro Bowl potential at the next level (in my humble opinion). He’s an aggressive run defender as well as a problem for offensive tackles as a pass rusher.

His body type and skillet translate well to the Redskins’ 3-4 scheme, as McKinley has the versatility and athleticism to either drop into coverage or rush the passer from the same position. It’s not hard for me to imagine McCloughan coveting his effort and ability at the edge spot - he’s on record saying that you can never have enough pass rushers, and neither Kerrigan or Galette (if he re-signs) are spring chickens. I also see Manusky being able to utilize him effectively in multiple blitz packages on 3rd down.

If he’s around at #17, don’t be surprised if we take the best defensive player on the board - which could very well be Tak McKinley.