Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue has hired Roc Nation and Ari Nissim as his new representatives, according to Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal (Twitter link). Ngakoue had previously employed agent Adisa Bakari.
Ngakoue just wrapped his second NFL campaign, and given league rules stipulate no player can sign a contract extension until after his third pro season, Ngakoue isn’t allowed to receive a new deal until 2019 at the earliest. Because he wasn’t a first-round pick, Ngakoue doesn’t have a fifth-year option attached to his pact, so he’ll base salaries of $735K and $834K over the next two years before hitting free agency.
Those figures are undeniable bargains for Ngakoue, who turned 23 years old earlier this year. The former third-rounder has been exceptional through two seasons in Jacksonville, as he’s posted 20 sacks since 2016, good for 12th in the NFL during that time. While Ngakoue isn’t much of a run defender, his pass-rush prowess enabled him to grade 23rd among all edge defenders a season ago, per Pro Football Focus.
The Jaguars have invested heavily in their defensive line in recent years, using draft picks on players such as Ngakoue, Dante Fowler Jr., Dawuane Smoot, and — most recently — Taven Bryan, signing free agents Malik Jackson and Calais Campbell, and trading for Marcell Dareus.
One of the best pass rushers in the game!