The Facts:
Their pursuit of Kirk Cousins dominated the headlines, but the Jets' affinity for McKinnon flew under the radar last week. The Jets engaged in a full-court press to sign the underrated player, according to sources, before the 49ers landed him.
Diehards Line:
McKinnon, 25, drew significant interest, but it ultimately came down to 49ers and Jets (The Buccaneers were in the mix as well) In the end, San Francisco doled out a four-year, $30 million deal that included $12 million guaranteed for 2018. Only three running backs (Le'Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman and LeSean McCoy) have a larger annual average than McKinnon's $7.5 million. On the surface, it was surprising that McKinnon would command such a hefty price tag, but Shanahan saw something special in McKinnon, who was an option quarterback for a few years in college, that made him the driving force to secure the multi-dimensional player. The Jets saw the same qualities, which isn't entirely surprising given that Gang Green's new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and run-game coordinator Rick Dennison are disciples of Mike Shanahan.