The Jaguars are aware I no longer have interest in signing a long term contract in Jacksonville. 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. -91
— Yannick Ngakoue (@YannickNgakoue) March 2, 2020
And with that, the free agent pass rushing market just got a lot more interesting. Yannick Ngakoue adds another premium name to the list for the Detroit Lions to investigate as a potential solution to the team’s pass pressure woes.
Ngakoue won’t come cheap, and he almost certainly won’t come without return compensation for Jacksonville. The Jaguars are widely expected to use the franchise tag on the 24-year-old (he turns 25 later this month) and then do a sign-and-trade deal.
The Lions do have some assets that could interest the cap-strapped Jaguars in a swap. Devon Kennard will make less than half of Ngakoue’s franchise tag figure and plays the same basic position. Cornerback Darius Slay would be a tougher sell because the Jaguars will not have the cap room available to sign him to his desired long-term contract, not without making other cuts first.
Ngakoue has 17.5 sacks in the last two seasons after bagging 14 in a breakout 2017. He’s not an ideal fit for the Lions because his run defense is subpar, but he’s the “flamethrower” of a stand-up EDGE that the team desperately needs.
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