Takkarist McKinley can become a free agent after the 2020 season after the Atlanta Falcons declined the defensive end’s fifth-year contract option for 2021.
The option would have been $10.1 million guaranteed for the 2021 season.
McKinley, 24, started 13 games last season but posted only 3.5 sacks before his season ended with a shoulder injury.
Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine the Falcons wouldn’t pick up the option, but general manager Thomas Dimitroff claimed at the time no decision had been made.
McKinley was the 26th overall pick in 2017. He had a total of 13 sacks during his first two seasons as a rotational pass rusher.
