Local

Falcons' first-round draft pick fulfills NFL promise he made to his dying grandmother

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons chose UCLA's Takkarist McKinley as their first-round pick.

Channel 2 Action News heard from McKinley overnight, for the first time since the draft.

He said he promised his grandmother, who raised him, that he would one day play in the NFL.

He said she kept him on the right track.

He tweeted about fulfilling his promise to her after the announcement.

McKinley said he is happy to have made it as far as he has,

"Growing up where I come from, a lot of guys don't make it this far. A lot of guys only make it through middle school without getting killed, going to jail or getting into that gang life," McKinley said.

McKinley is a flexible player and could end up as a defensive end or linebacker.