Jets Not Interested In Yannick Ngakoue
The Jets’ lack of a top-tier pass rusher has led to many observers connecting the dots between Gang Green and players like Yannick Ngakoue and Jadeveon Clowney this offseason. But we heard earlier this month that the club has no interest in Clowney, and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com says the Jets feel the same way about Ngakoue.
That jibes with what Cimini reported back in March, but as the Jets have since acquired multiple first-round picks while failing to address their pass-rushing needs, it seemed that there was a possibility that the club could still make a move for Ngakoue, whose disenchantment with the Jaguars has been well-publicized. And, since several Power 5 conferences have pushed their seasons to the spring — while the remaining conferences could still follow suit — New York’s 2021 first-round selections may not be quite as valuable as they normally would be.
Still, Cimini says GM Joe Douglas views his four first-round picks from 2021-22 to be vital to the club’s rebuild, and he would be loathe to part with them. On the other hand, the ESPN scribe says Ravens’ edge defender Matt Judon could pique Douglas’ interest.
Indeed, Douglas, a former Ravens scout, has made a habit of acquiring former Baltimore talent, and Cimini classifies Judon as a better player than Ngakoue — which could be up for debate — who would fit nicely in the Jets’ 3-4 front. Judon and the Ravens did not reach an extension prior to the July 15 deadline, so he will play out the 2020 season on his franchise tag.
But unlike Ngakoue’s animosity towards Jacksonville, Judon harbors no ill-will towards the Ravens. And Baltimore, a championship contender, does not have much by way of proven depth in the pass-rushing department either, so it would be surprising to see the team jettison Judon, even if it could get a first-rounder in return.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/20
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Amani Bledsoe
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed: WR Travis Fulgham (from Lions)
- Released: CB Marc-Antoine Dequoy, TE James Looney, WR Darrell Stewart
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: FB Bruce Miller
- Released: FB Connor Slomka
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed: DB Jeremiah Dinson (from Lions)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Tony Brooks-James
- Waived: OT Brady Aiello
New England Patriots
- Waived/Injured: WR Quincy Adeboyejo
Jaguars Expected To Sign Timmy Jernigan
Two months after Timmy Jernigan and the Texans agreed to terms, the veteran defensive tackle looks to have another deal in place. Jernigan visited the Jaguars and is expected to sign with the team soon, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
The free agent defensive tackle’s Houston contract fell through in early June. He looks set to join one of the Texans’ top rivals instead. The former second-round pick went to high school in north Florida and sought a Jaguars deal over other options, per Garafolo (on Twitter).
Free agents have spent much of 2020 in limbo, with the coronavirus pandemic prompting the NFL to restrict teams from meeting with players or working them out. But the league gave the green light for teams to conduct visits and workouts Tuesday, and the Jags will add some depth to their D-line.
Jernigan, 27, lingered in free agency until June and returned to the market following his nixed Houston agreement. The Jags will mark the seventh-year defensive lineman’s third NFL team. Jernigan spent the first three years of his career with the Ravens before playing with the Eagles from 2017-19.
Traded from Baltimore to Philadelphia in 2017, Jernigan was a full-time starter for the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning team. He signed a four-year, $48MM extension to stay with Philly long-term, but the Eagles cut him in 2019. However, Jernigan re-signed with the Eagles for less money shortly after. He started nine games last season, playing 306 snaps and rating as a middle-of-the-pack interior defender, per Pro Football Focus.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/20
Here are today’s minor moves. We will update as necessary throughout the day:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE George Obinna
- Waived: DT Jeffery Whatley
Denver Broncos
- Waived/NFI: DL Jonathan Harris
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Malik Turner
- Waived: S Frankie Griffin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Josh Mauro
- Waived: WR C.J. Board
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers (from Steelers): CB Breon Borders
- Signed: DT Brandin Bryant
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Darius Kilgo
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Prince Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OT William Sweet
Yannick Ngakoue Checks In With Jaguars
Yannick Ngakoue has yet to report to the Jaguars, but this is at least a step in the right direction. Jags GM Dave Caldwell says that he has spoken to the defensive end in recent days (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Still, Caldwell isn’t sure whether he’ll actually show up to camp. 
[RELATED: Jaguars’ Ngakoue Fires Agent]
“That’s for [Ngakoue] to discuss,” Caldwell said.
Ngakoue canned his agent on Monday, signaling his dissatisfaction with the way the offseason has played out. Presumably, Ngakoue is mostly frustrated with the Jaguars, but he also expected his reps to help facilitate a trade that would take him elsewhere.
Ngakoue spent months pushing for a lucrative long-term extension. Then, he pivoted to a trade demand. Shortly before the franchise tag extension deadline, Ngakoue let the rest of the NFL know that he would be willing to table contract talks and play on his one-year, $17.88MM tender. Still, nothing came of that concession. The Jaguars still wanted something significant in exchange for the 25-year-old and no one was willing to pay sticker price.
Evaluators are split on Ngakoue’s true value. On one hand, he’s a young talent at a premium position who has notched at least eight sacks in each of his four NFL seasons. On the other hand, his pressures-to-sacks ratio doesn’t add up. Trading for Ngakoue means coughing up draft capital for a rather expensive rental and waiting until next offseason to discuss a new deal. Meanwhile, plenty of proven edge rushers remain on the market, and can likely be had for less. Jadeveon Clowney, for example, would probably take less than ~$18MM at this point.
The Jaguars still have the ability to trade Ngakoue, and he doesn’t have to join the team until he inks his tender. But, at this point, it might make sense for Ngakoue to bury the axe.
Jaguars’ Yannick Ngakoue Fires Agent
Yannick Ngakoue has parted ways with his agent (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The defensive end will now look for a new rep, who will be the third agent of his career. Per league rules, Ngakoue must wait at least five days before hiring a new agent.
Ngakoue is set to play on his one-year, $17.88MM franchise tender. He’s been extremely vocal about his desire to get out of Jacksonville but his market has been depressed by a number of factors. The Jaguars have received multiple trade offers for the defensive end, but none of them have been to their liking. Apparently, Ngakoue feels that a new agent can help bring a deal together.
Regardless of where Ngakoue winds up, he’ll have no choice but to sign and play on the one-year tender. After that, Ngakoue and his team will be formally barred from hammering out an extension until next year.
Although the extension ship has temporarily sailed, there is precedent for a player changing teams in this scenario. Last year, the Seahawks waited until August 31 before shipping Jadeveon Clowney to the Texans. At last check, the Jaguars were seeking a first-round pick – plus more – for Ngakoue. They’ll almost certainly have to scale back their asking price for a deal to come together. Theoretically, a 2021 third-round pick would at least give them something, a slight upgrade over the 2022 third-round compensatory pick they’d get by allowing the youngster to walk.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/20
We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: FB Bronson Rechsteiner
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed: DT Bruce Hector (from Eagles)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: G Michael Dunn, G Jovahn Fair
- Released: TE Nate Wieting
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: WR Kendrick Rogers
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Detroit): WR Travis Fulgham
- Waived: DE/LB Jamal Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Taylor Stallworth
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DL Carl Davis, DL Caraun Reid
- Released: CB Kobe Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers (from Cleveland): TE Nate Wieting
Philadelphia Eagles
- Retired: LB Jatavis Brown
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: CB Brian Allen, RB Anthony Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived/Injured: WR Travis Jonsen
Jaguars Sign Tramaine Brock
The Jaguars signed cornerback Tramaine Brock following his visit on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The eleventh-year pro has been brought in to fill the void left by Rashaan Melvin‘s opt-out. 
[RELATED: Jaguars’ Rashaan Melvin Opts Out]
Brock, long regarded as one of the league’s better slot corners, joined the Cardinals in April of last year. The deal reunited the veteran with Vance Joseph, who set out to build an experienced CB unit for 2019. The Cardinals dropped him in December – even though he was having a solid year – leading him to the Titans for their home stretch. With the Cardinals, Brock tallied 37 stops, two tackles for a loss, and three passes defensed across ten games. With the Titans, he made four regular season starts plus three starts in their memorable postseason run.
Brock was slowed somewhat by a hamstring injury last year, but he’s believed to be fully healed at this stage. In theory, he could be an upgrade over Melvin, who hasn’t truly shined since his 2017 season with the Colts. Brock will feature in Jacksonville’s new look secondary, a unit without Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. He’ll join D.J. Hayden and promising first-round pick C.J. Henderson in the revamped group.
2020 NFL Cap Space, By Team
A total of 67 NFL players opted out of the 2020 season, leaving teams with major roster holes and newly-found cap space. Here’s the rundown of every team’s official cap figure, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter):
- Cleveland Browns – $40.5MM
- New England Patriots – $33.4MM
- Washington Football Team – $30.6MM
- Denver Broncos – $29.5MM
- New York Jets – $29.3MM
- Tennessee Titans – $25.2MM
- Miami Dolphins – $24.7MM
- Buffalo Bills – $24.2MM
- Philadelphia Eagles – $23.7MM
- Detroit Lions – $22.9MM
- Indianapolis Colts – $22.3MM
- New York Giants – $21.4MM
- Houston Texans – $21.1MM
- Cincinnati Bengals – $18.6MM
- Chicago Bears – $17.2MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars – $17MM
- Seattle Seahawks – $14.5MM
- Los Angeles Chargers – $13.7MM
- Green Bay Packers – $12.3MM
- Carolina Panthers – $13.2MM
- Kansas City Chiefs – $13MM
- San Francisco 49ers – $12.5MM
- Minnesota Vikings – $12.4MM
- Dallas Cowboys – $9.9MM
- New Orleans Saints – $7.8MM
- Atlanta Falcons – $7.4MM
- Baltimore Ravens – $7MM
- Arizona Cardinals – $5.6MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers – $4.5MM
- Los Angeles Rams – $3.9MM
- Las Vegas Raiders – $3.3MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $1.4MM
Jaguars’ Rashaan Melvin Opts Out
Jaguars cornerback Rashaan Melvin has opted out of the 2020 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). With three hours to go before the NFL’s deadline, more than 60 players have opted out.
Melvin, a veteran who has spent time with eight different teams, joined the Jaguars in free agency after spending 2019 with the Lions. His one-year deal – worth $2.25MM – will toll in 2021.
The former UDFA started 12 games for Detroit last year. In Jacksonville, he was set to start opposite of D.J. Hayden in the club’s new-look secondary. With Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye playing elsewhere, the Jaguars will need first-round pick C.J. Henderson to get up to speed fast.
Melvin’s best season came with the Colts in 2017 and some weren’t sold on the Jaguars’ signing of him in March. Still, they’ll be worse off without him, and they only have a matter of weeks to explore out-of-house options.