While the Jaguars aren’t closing in on a trade of wide receiver Yannick Ngakoue right now, a report on Wednesday indicated that the move was imminent. While Ngakoue has not signed a franchise tag, he has made it clear that he wants to be dealt to a team that can offer him a multi-year deal. That said, the Jaguars aren’t closing the door on a trade of Ngakoue right now.
Nagel
If you have been following the NFL trade rumors all year, you’ve probably heard about the Raiders trading DE Yannick Ngakoue and CB Rock Ya-Sin to the Colts. While this move is a bit of a shock, it does free up $7 million in cap space. It leaves $8 million dead money. However, the Colts will still have to pay $13 million for Ngakoue next season.
Since March, rumors have circulated that the Jaguars are looking to move Ngakoue. Several reports have said that the two sides are close to an agreement. Ngakoue had reportedly rejected a franchise tender and refused to sign a new contract with the team. He also reportedly engaged in an ugly Twitter fight with Shad Khan’s son, Tony. Despite his pending free agency, Ngakoue’s trade demand is not insignificant. He has 37.5 career sacks and forced 14 fumbles. His tackle total is 121.
Despite his lack of success in the NFL, Ngakoue’s potential is still very high. Unlike other elite pass rushers like Jadeveon Clowney, Ngakoue’s upside would be higher than if he signed with the Jets. However, the Jets have been reluctant to spend big money on edge players. The Pats, on the other hand, are more likely to be serious about building a hybrid offense with a pass-heavy approach. A pair of Ngakoue and Garrett would give the team a top pass rush.
While the Colts had to part with Rock Ya-Sin in order to acquire Ngakoue, the trade is a good move for both sides. Ngakoue will provide edge presence and a proven outside sack artist for Buckner. In addition, the Colts are spending a lot of cash on defensive ends in the next draft. They will also spend money in free agency to retain Ngakoue, as he is under contract through the 2022 season.
Ya-Sin
The Indianapolis Colts have been rumored to be interested in the young cornerback, but that’s not the only team that could be interested in him. The Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins have also expressed interest in the rookie. However, it’s difficult to say if the Colts would be interested in trading Ya-Sin. It’s unclear if the Colts are even interested in Ngakoue, and that would depend on which team was willing to give up their pick in return.
If the Colts are interested in the EDGE position, then they should be. Ngakoue has played very well there, but the Colts have not had a strong edge presence since 2017. A pass rusher like Yannick Ngakoue could be exactly what they’re looking for. This is a win-win situation for both teams. In a trade like this, teams have to be smart about their moves.
If the Colts were interested in acquiring a defensive back, they should be looking at a package that includes two studs. Ya-Sin Ngakoue was drafted by Indianapolis in the second round of the 2019 draft and made his debut on day one. However, the Colts struggled to find a pass rush threat other than DeForest Buckner.
While a deal like this is a risk, Las Vegas will save $5 million in cap space for the next two seasons and retain some financial flexibility in the offseason. By giving Ngakoue to the Colts, the Raiders are making a smart move. In exchange for Ngakoue, they get cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. This trade could be one of the biggest moves the Raiders have made this year.
Seahawks
The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of many teams linked to the potential trade of defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. He has been the subject of trade rumors for months. A report from NFL Network has the Jaguars receiving serious offers for the former Pro Bowl player. However, given the current salary cap situation, it is doubtful that the Jaguars will accept a first-rounder. However, the Jaguars could still receive a second or third-round pick in return for Ngakoue.
If the Jets were to sign Ngakoue, they’d have to match his asking price. But Seattle doesn’t have a lot of cap space and likely will have to make trades or veteran cuts in order to get the best deal. The Vikings would have to give up a top defender in exchange for the stud defensive end, and the cap hit would end any chance of carrying over money into 2021.
The Jaguars might be willing to part with Ramsey and Adams if the right deal is offered. However, they don’t want to part with their best player for nothing. Neither does Ngakoue, who’ll turn 29 in May, who’ll be 30 in 2020. In this situation, it would be best to get what you’re worth for Ngakoue, and trade him to another team.
The Jaguars are reportedly seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Ngakoue. But while this seems like a good haul, it’s not on the same level as the one they got for Adams and Ramsey. Plus, Ngakoue can’t sign a long-term deal until 2020. This means he’d be counted for more than $20 million on the Jaguars’ 2021 franchise tag.
Cardinals
After two straight seasons in New York, the Jets are looking for a way to add firepower to their defense, and a trade for Ngakoue could be the way to do it. The team has lost All-Pro linebacker C.J. Mosley and recently traded forward Patrik Laine to the Seahawks. Adding Ngakoue to the mix would give them some much-needed depth in the defensive line.
The Jaguars are another team linked to the edge rusher. A deal for Ngakoue could provide Jacksonville with draft capital. In July, the Jaguars acquired two first-round picks and a second-round pick, which could be enough to get Ngakoue. In addition, the Jaguars have two first-round picks this year, and a third-round pick in 2022. If they trade for Ngakoue, they could use one of these picks to bring him to New York.
The Colts also landed a second-round pick last year. Ngakoue is a proven pass rusher and will likely play opposite Kwity Paye. A Colts team may want to extend Ngakoue, but it will depend on the Colts’ current roster. The Colts had some trouble with pass rush last season. They were ranked 26th in pass defense.
The Vikings could get Yannick Ngakoue in exchange for Riley Reiff, Anthony Harris, and Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings are in win-now mode and would have to trade one of their high-cap players to get him. This move would transform the Vikings’ pass rush. If this happens, it could be a huge boost to the Vikings’ Super Bowl aspirations.
Dolphins
If you are following the NFL Draft, you have probably heard the rumor that the Jacksonville Jaguars are in the market to trade their star wide receiver. However, you may be wondering, where would the Jaguars go to get a first round pick in return for Ngakoue? It is a common practice for NFL teams to trade away franchise tagged players in exchange for a first round pick.
As for why the Jaguars would trade away a first-round pick for the talented defensive end, it’s difficult to understand. While the Jaguars would not mind trading away one of their best players for another, they certainly don’t want to lose their best player. While Ngakoue’s salary would be higher, the Jets and Jaguars may want to consider this option. If the Jaguars do, they could get a top draft pick and a quality player in return.
In addition to the Vikings, there are other teams that have been linked to Ngakoue. The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, are rumored to be interested in trading Ngakoue to the New York Jets. This could help them gain draft capital in 2020. Miami, which owns two first-round picks this season, could also benefit from trading for Ngakoue.
Another rumor involving Ngakoue’s potential move is that the Jaguars have closed a deal with the Minnesota Vikings. In return for signing Ngakoue, the Jets will receive a conditional 2021 second-round pick and a conditional 2022 fifth-round draft pick. That pick could be upgraded to a fourth-round pick if Ngakoue makes the Pro Bowl in 2020. If that happens, the pick could go all the way to a third-round pick.
