The veteran edge market thinned out recently with deals being signed by Leonard Floyd and Frank Clark, but other pass rushers are still available at this point. One of those is Yannick Ngakoue, who figures to be a target for several teams still eyeing additions to their defensive fronts. 
The 28-year-old has one of the league’s best track records with respect to sack production, something he has maintained during his nomadic time following his trade away from the Jaguars in 2020. Ngakoue is still angling for a multi-year deal from his newest team in a bid to find some career stability, and he acknowledged his preference for joining a contender earlier this offseason.
With respect to finances, the former second-rounder’s asking price is likely the primary obstacle to a deal getting finalized. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that Ngakoue was seeking between $8MM and $10MM as of May. The base value of Floyd’s pact with the Bills ($7MM) as well as Clark’s with the Broncos ($5.5MM) check in below that rate, though each one-year contract includes incentives. Attaining a longer investment, especially at a higher rate, would be a tall order at this point in the offseason for Ngakoue.
The Maryland product should still have suitors, especially if his contract terms come down. Biggs names the Bears as a team which would be well-suited to add Ngakoue, who has accumulated 65 sacks in his career and registered no fewer than eight in any given season. Chicago was relatively quiet in free agency and the team eyed the draft as an avenue for bolstering its pass rush. While three defensive tackles were added in April, no true edge rushers were drafted. A move amongst the remaining free agents would come as little surprise.
In Chicago or elsewhere, Ngakoue should be able to land a notable role as a sack artist this offseason. He recently changed agents to help achieve that goal, though teams may not need to proceed with much urgency during the break before training camps open in July. Especially if his asking price remains higher than the current market likely values him at, he may find himself in search of a new deal for the foreseeable future.
I think Poles has his sights set on Chase Young. He’s just waiting for Wash to make a decision to cut him or trade him. If Nagouke suited their system, They would of signed him already. Poles is proven willing to wait for the guy he wants.
Poles is a hard one to read. He’s said he’s going to address the edge position, but who knows how or when he’ll do it? (I still think they need help at center/guard but he didn’t address that either).
As far as Young goes, it’s all about the medicals. His injury was major and his recovery long. I don’t see Poles using draft capital on a guy as risky as that. Besides, if he’s still on that rookie deal (?), Washington hasn’t got much to lose by waiting to see if he can come back strong. Gonna be interesting to watch.
With like 30 million or so still left in Cap space Poles can wait until cut down days to get the type of player who fits their system. They seem to prefer tall, fast DLinemen who can knock down passes if they can’t get to the QB. At least that’s what they drafted for the most part. There are still going to be guys cut who we don’t know but I said I hoped the Bears wouldn’t just spend all their cash willy nilly and would save some. And he has. There were 3 layers of the off season. FA-Draft and final cut down day. The Bears can still get guys who fit their profiles.I also find it interesting that all off season we heard how Claypool was working hard and picking up the offense and now that mini camp is over they’re bashing him. Seems out of character for this regime so far. He also seems happy with Whitehair and Patrick and Kramer. I’m not, And like you I think he’s gonna regret it.
I saw the Claypool stuff. They don’t have any direct team quotes so I wonder if it’s reporters just stirring up drama. Wouldn’t be the first time
Where there is smoke there is usually a little fire. Maybe they are working through the media to light that fire a little hotter.