Another long-rumored franchise tag candidate received that designation Friday. The Jaguars will apply their top tag to Yannick Ngakoue, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Teams have until 10:59am CT to apply tags.
Ngakoue profiles as this year’s most logical tag-and-trade candidate, however. Ngakoue has said he no longer wants to play in Jacksonville. But for now, the would-have-been free agent defensive end will be tagged at $17.8MM.
Ngakoue skipped the Jags’ offseason program last year while angling for a new contract but reported for training camp. Of the edge rushers who have been tagged or are expected to be tagged, the soon-to-be 25-year-old edge rusher has displayed the most consistency. The 2016 third-round pick has posted at least eight sacks in all four of his seasons, topping out with 12 to go with six forced fumbles in the Jags’ 2017 “Sacksonville” season.
“The Jaguars are aware I no longer have interest in signing a long term contract in Jacksonville,” Ngakoue tweeted. “Duval, I love you and gave you guys everything I got. I’m thankful for the journey and look forward to continuing my career elsewhere.”
Should the Jags entertain the prospect of trading another of their acclaimed 2016 draftees, interest will surely emerge. The Seahawks have already surfaced as a potential Ngakoue suitor, and they executed two tag-and-trade deals in 2019. Ngakoue joins Matt Judon and Bud Dupree as this year’s crop of edge rushers who could be tagged and then dealt.
Yannick Ngakoue to the Giants for Evan Engram and a fourth round pick.
Giants get a defensive beast who makes Leonard Williams free to leave which opens up some money. Williams has asked for boat loads of money ever since his trade and hasn’t earned it.
Yannick would be an upgrade and him Tomlinson and Lawrence would form a tough group.
In return the Jags get back a decent pick and a nice young TE in Engram. TE is a position that needs filling in Jacksonville and Engram is young enough to suit a rebuild if the team plans on playing with Minshew. That offence would be nice with Engram Fournette Chark Westbrook and so on.
As a giants fan sure but no way the jags do this.