FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. _ The Falcons pulled off a trade with Seattle on Thursday night to land UCLA pass rusher Takkarist McKinley with the 26th pick in the NFL draft.
The Falcons gave up a third-round and a seventh-round pick to move up from the 31st spot to the 26th spot to draft McKinley, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive end.
McKinley gave an emotional speech at the draft. He was emotional about being selected.
He'd promised his ailing grandmother than he would make it to the NFL and shortly after that she did.
Myrtle Collins, his grandmother, had raised him as her own son. She used to gather recyclable cans to help pay the rent.
She kept McKinley from getting involved in the gangs and drugs in a tough Northern California neighborhood. They'd watch wrestling matches together and her favor wrestler was Booker T.
McKinley was the third rated edge rusher in the draft behind Myles Garrett and Derek Barnett, by Dane Brugler's 2017 NFL draft guide. Garrett went No. 1 overall to Cleveland and Barnett was selected 14th overall by the Eagles.
McKinley played in 34 games for the Bruins and made 23 starts. He finished his career with 17 sacks. He had 10 sacks last season while playing for former Falcons head coach Jim Mora.
