Pass rusher Takk McKinley was the 26th overall choice in 2017, selected four picks before the Steelers took T.J. Watt. The Falcons weren’t the only team that gave McKinley a high grade coming out of UCLA.
He also has only $875,000 left on his rookie contract for the remainder of the season, with none of it guaranteed.
So McKinley is a low-risk waiver claim for the Bengals.
And they weren’t the only team interested in McKinley.
The Raiders, Browns and 49ers also put in a claim, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports. The Bengals, based on their record, were first in the claim order.
The Texans and Ravens were other teams that put in a claim for cornerback Corey Ballentine, according to Rapoport. The Giants released Ballentine on Tuesday, and the Jets, with the No. 1 priority, were awarded Ballentine on Wednesday.