Category: Yannick Ngakoue

League, NFLPA pushes back franchise and transition tag window a few days

The franchise and transition period will now begin on Thursday February 27 and end two days after it was initially supposed to on March 12.

The NFL and NFLPA have been working to iron out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement this past week but they have yet to shake hands on a deal. However, one thing that they have agreed on is pushing back the franchise and transition tag window.

Initially, the franchise and transition periods were supposed to start on Tuesday, February 25 and end on Tuesday, March 10, but according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, both dates have been pushed two days back. That means the period will now begin on Thursday, February 27 and will end on Thursday, March 12.

Of course, the player on the Jags’ roster who has been heavily associated with being tagged is defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. He played on the last year of his rookie deal in 2019 and will be a free agent once the new league year begins if he isn’t extended or tagged.

Ngakoue has been one of Dave Caldwell’s most productive draft picks and it’s hard to see the Jags just letting him hit the open market. While the franchise tag prices haven’t been set, using the tag on Ngakoue could cost a projected total of $19.3 million, while the transition tag would cost around a projected amount of $16.3 million.

In all probability, the tag would be a temporary solution if use on Ngakoue, because the Jags would probably be cheaper off signing him to a long-term deal. With the Jags coming up on a time in which they must rid themselves of several cap casualties in the next few weeks, we’ll see if the Jags start making progress on a new deal for Ngakoue before free agency or afterward. Regardless, it feels like the franchise tag might be in play at some point for the young pass rusher.

PFF predicts Bills to sign Yannick Ngakoue

PFF believes Yannick Ngakoue could end up going north to another AFC team during free agency.

With the NFL Combine coming up, there will be free agent rumors surfacing all over the web. Of course, the most popular name for the Jacksonville Jaguars will be defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, whose contract expires at the end of the new league year.

In taking an educated guess, he likely is heading towards being temporarily franchise tagged, however, some who feel he won’t be playing for the Jags. Pro Football Focus is amongst that group and believes he’ll get paid elsewhere.

In their free agent predictions article, they sent him to the Buffalo Bills, who will need some pass rush help before the season begins.

26. Edge Yannick Ngakoue – Buffalo Bills

Projected contract: 4 years, $19.5 million per year ($57 million guaranteed)

Considering the Jaguars are currently over the cap, seeing Yannick Ngakoue on another squad in 2020 seems likely. Things could change with cuts, but for now, Buffalo, which owns the third-most cap space, would be the likeliest landing spot for Ngakoue. With Shaq Lawson set to hit free agency and Lorenzo Alexander retiring, Buffalo has nearly half of its total edge pressures to replace this offseason. Ngakoue has produced top-20 pass-rush grades in each of the past three seasons and could play the 6/7-tech role Lawson played.

First and foremost, it’s hard to see the Jags just letting Ngakoue walk, so if the Bills got him it would be a tag and trade type of deal.

Secondly, if that’s the kind of contract Ngakoue wants in guarantees, the Jags shouldn’t have any trouble locking him up and his chances to stay in Jacksonville should be at about 75%. However, in my opinion, he’s going to want somewhere in the $65 million range, which is still doable for the Jags.

The Jags are coming up on a period in which they have to decide on Marcell Dareus’ contract option by February 25. They will likely decline it, as it would free up $20 million. That would also put the Jags in the positive by approximately $16 million in terms of salary cap. The Jags could technically start ironing out a deal will Ngakoue then, and one structured like Frank Clark’s would still allow them to remain in the positive.

Shad Khan hopes to have both Yannick Ngakoue, Calais Campbell back in 2020

Jaguars owner Shad Khan wants both of his best defensive lineman back in 2020 and believes the Jags have the resources to make it happen.

The 2020 combine is right around the corner which means free agency will also be here before fans know it. A big part of the combine aside from the prospects on the field will be the latest in free agency rumors, and for Jacksonville Jaguars fans, that could include more clarity on Yannick Ngakoue’s situation.

It’s been made clear that the Jags want to retain him by general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone, and last week owner Shad Khan broke his silence on the matter, too. When asked about keeping Ngakoue and veteran Calais Campbell, who also is a question mark to return, Khan stated that he’s hopeful both will be back in 2020.

“I think he’s a fabulous guy,” Khan said about Campbell to Jaguars.com reporter Ashlyn Sullivan. “And I think his contributions everybody understands, knows, [and] respects. Both of these players, Yannick [Ngakoue] and Calais [Campbell], I had chats with them after this season. So I mean certainly I’d love for them to be back and I’m very hopeful they’re gonna be back.”

The feeling has always been that both will be back despite Campbell being a $15 million cap hit in 2020 and Ngakoue being a free agent when the new league year begins.

Campbell is basically viewed as the heart and soul of the team and has mentioned signing an extension to potentially lower his cap hit since the regular season ended, but added that the deal must “make sense” from his perspective. However, even if the Jags have to bite the bullet and pay him $15 million on the season, they likely won’t have any problems with doing so.

As for Ngakoue, he’s likely eying a deal along the lines of DeMarcus Lawrence’s, which is a five-year contract for $105 million with $65 million guaranteed. The deal Frank Clark got last year (five years, $104 million with $62.3 million guaranteed) could also be one that could garner his interest.

With figures like that on his mind and the Jags having several needs in free agency, it wouldn’t be a shocker to see Ngakoue franchised to some capacity — at least temporarily. If he’s given the non-exclusive franchise tag the Jags could be looking at a contract of approximately $19 million for one season and would allow Ngakoue and his party to negotiate a deal with another team for the Jags to match. If they elect not to match it the other team would have to compensate the Jags with two first-round selections.

“We very much want him to be [back],” Khan added. “I’ve talked to him — but absolutely it’s our desire that he be back.”

I think a simple fix could be structuring a long-term deal like Clark’s where his cap hit is small the first year ($6.5 million or a little more). However, time will tell if the Jags feel Ngakoue is worth $65 million guaranteed because it remains to be seen how they value him.

Maurice Jones-Drew shoots his take on Jags’ handling of Yannick Ngakoue

Jaguars great Maurice Jones-Drew says he’s heard from Yannick Ngakoue this week and had some takes on the Jags’ handling of him.

With the Super Bowl coming up, radio row has provided some quality takes for Jacksonville Jaguars fans, whether it’s from current or retired players. Former running back Maurice Jones-Drew was one of many to share his thoughts with Jacksonville’s ESPN 690AM sports station, elaborating on a wide variety of topics including Yannick Ngakoue’s contract situation.

Jones-Drew, who once dealt with a contract situation early in Shad Khan’s tenure as owner, too, stated that he felt the Jags have basically mismanaged the situation by not taking care of Ngakoue earlier.

“That [deal] should have been taken care of a long time ago,” Jones-Drew said. “Take care of it early. My parents always told me, ‘You’re gonna pay. Either you’re gonna pay now or you’re gonna pay later, but you’re gonna pay.’”

Jones-Drew’s comments echo the sentiments we’ve stressed (and many others) during the 2019 season. When reflecting on last season, the mis-step that hurt the Jags in particular was the option to pay Nick Foles, something that was ill advised because of his limited success and injury history. Lo and behold, Foles ended up suffering an unfortunate injury and the team were stuck with a $12 million cap hit for someone who only took the field for 185 snaps.

Jones-Drew added that he spoke with Ngakoue this week and stated that he didn’t want to put his full personal conversation out there but did hint at there being a communication problem.

“We did have a conversation though, yesterday, and I think the biggest thing is communication,” Jones-Drew told Brent Martineau of ESPN 690. “Don’t play the game in the media. That’s kind of where [my contract situation] went a little bit, and I refused to do that because to me we’re talking about business.

“That doesn’t need to be going in the media,” Jones-Drew added. “It needs to be face-to-face. We need to sit down and have a conversation, I can tell you how I feel, you can tell me how you feel, and we can move on. Either we agree or we don’t or we agree to disagree — it is what it is.”

After the season Jags general manager Dave Caldwell stated that he and Doug Marrone think highly of Ngakoue and wanted to make signing him the team’s top priority. He later added that he felt the deal could take some time but was one that could be done “relatively easily” and that ownership could also get involved. Khan also said he met with players after the season, and one would think Ngakoue should’ve been atop the list.

However, based on Jones-Drew comments, it appears Ngakoue and his camp possibly haven’t heard anything from the Jags. His recent social media post insinuates the same, though it’s not completely clear.

Caldwell said the team would start making decisions on veteran contracts closer to March, which will give fans an idea of what they are working with in terms of cap space. In the meantime, it appears they need to establish a better means of communication with Ngakoue (at least in his eyes) as it appears to be a divide between both parties.

 

Dave Caldwell on Calais Campbell: ‘We still feel like he has football left ahead of him’

Jags GM Dave Caldwell will have some tough decisions to make this offseason but it appears he does want to move forward with Calais Campbell.

There are a lot of big-time decisions to be made by Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell this offseason, including a decision on what to do about defensive lineman Calais Campbell. The veteran has just one year left on his deal, however, for a Jags team that’s currently over the salary cap, Caldwell will have to decide on whether or not the Jags want to bring him back on a price tag of about $15 million.

Caldwell was asked by Jaguars.com about Campbell’s future with the team, and his reply seems to indicate that the Jags want the veteran back.

“We still feel like he has football left ahead of him,” Caldwell said Tuesday.

Caldwell also added that the defensive staff is currently having discussions on Campbell’s role heading forward and how he’ll be used.

To lower his cap figure on the year, many fans have suggested an extension, something the team at least looked into last year. However, the Jags never went through with the process for whatever reason and it may be because both parties could come to an agreement each side felt was fair. If the Jags want to take a second swing at an extension, Campbell told Action Sports Jax that he’s open to it earlier this month, but again, the financial figures have to make sense.

“Obviously, there has to be communication, that’s just the way it is,” said Campbell. “There was communication in years past and we weren’t able to come to an agreement and that’s ok. Hopefully, if there is communication and we can come to an agreement and we can find something that makes sense for both sides. Do I think I’m worth $15 million still? You damn right. You see these guys getting paid 20 plus million (sic.) a year and they’re incredible players, but I feel like I’m as good as most of these guys getting paid this ridiculous money. I’m not going to go and ask for $20 million. I don’t mind being a $15 million a year guy.”

Heading forward it will be interesting to see what direction the Jags go with Campbell because they need to free up some cap space to retain defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. However, if Campbell is retained at his current price tag, the Jags are going to have to make some other big-time cuts to free up the space they need for Ngakoue, their rookie draft class, and free agents.

GM Dave Caldwell says Yannick Ngakoue deal ‘could take a little time’ and likely will involve ownership

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said Yannick Ngakoue would be the team’s top priority this offseason in his postseason presser and that tone hasn’t changed a few weeks later. Caldwell spoke with Jaguars.com while attending the …

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said Yannick Ngakoue would be the team’s top priority this offseason in his postseason presser and that tone hasn’t changed a few weeks later. Caldwell spoke with Jaguars.com while attending the Senior Bowl Tuesday and Ngakoue was one of the many topics who came up.

“It’s a deal that we feel like could take a little bit of time but should be done hopefully relatively easily,” Caldwell said.

A deal that could “take a little bit of time” clearly sounds like Caldwell is aiming for a long-term deal, unlike the short-term one which the team shot his way last summer. That may likely involve the team temporarily franchise tagging him, which is projected to cost over $17 million this season.

Per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the deal that Ngakoue was offered last year was one that paid out $19 million annually and would’ve made him the fourth-highest paid defensive end. However, the guaranteed amount wasn’t revealed.

Caldwell added that the process is one that will likely involve owner Shad Khan and his son Tony Khan, which proves their sense of urgency to keep their star. With the team coming off a season in which they lost their franchise player, Jalen Ramsey, and was called out by the NFLPA, it appears Khan may be looking to run his organization better and is striving to make the players a little happier.

Right now, the highest-paid 4-3 defensive end is DeMarcus Lawrence, who signed a five-year deal worth $105 million with $65 million being guaranteed last April. With Ngakoue beating him out in sacks this season with eight and having just five fewer tackles (41), he’ll likely view that as a starting point in negotiations. Before that happens, however, the Jags will need to begin clearing out some cap space, a process that Caldwell says the team has until the beginning of the league year (March 18) to address.

Yannick Ngakoue Jags’ lone pending free agent on PFF’s top-50 list

The Jags had one player to grade out as a top free agent in 2019 per PFF and that was DE Yannick Ngakoue, who the team must retain.

With a busy offseason coming up for the league, Pro Football Focus has completed their top-50 free agents list for 2020.

Fortunately, there was only one player from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster who was listed, and of course, that was edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, who came in at the No. 18 spot.

18. EDGE Yannick Ngakoue

Ngakoue has followed his collegiate profile as a good pass-rusher and below-average run defender (career-high grade of 60.0 in 2018). His best season came in 2017, as he graded at 81.0 overall to go with an 88.2 pass-rush grade and 82 total pressures (14 sacks, 15 QB hits, 53 hurries). Over the last two years, he’s posted pass-rush grades of 76.8 in 2018 and 77.5 this season, both solid numbers but not at the 2017 level that had Ngakoue looking like the next great pass-rusher in the NFL. At just 25 years old, he looks like a strong presence off the edge for the foreseeable future, but his questionable run defense coupled with the fact that more valuable positions are hitting the open market has us lower on him than most.

Oddly enough, Ngakoue wasn’t listed as a top-7 player but it appears PFF isn’t high on his ability against the run. Personally, I thought he was solid enough in the category to definitely get paid like DeMarcus Lawrence or Frank Clark (a five-year deal guaranteeing around $65 million) but only time will tell if a deal truly happens.

Ngakoue had arguably his best season as a pro in 2019 and that’s despite having a nagging hamstring injury earlier in the year. He ultimately finished the season with a career-high of 41 tackles and eight sacks.

Coming into the offseason general manager Dave Caldwell said Ngakoue would be the team’s No. 1 priority in the offseason. With the team losing a franchise player like Jalen Ramsey in 2019, it would be wise to keep Ngakoue, especially when considering the amount of needs the Jags already have.

ESPN says interior DL is Jags’ biggest need

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of needs to address this offseason but we listed linebacker as their top in our postseason assessment of the team. However, some would say the Jags have more pressing needs, including ESPN. In their network’s …

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of needs to address this offseason but we listed linebacker as their top in our postseason assessment of the team. However, some would say the Jags have more pressing needs, including ESPN.

In their network’s biggest 2020 offseason needs article, Jags beat writer Mike DiRocco identified the interior defensive line as the Jags’ most pressing need of the offseason:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Fix the interior of the defensive line. The Jaguars finished 28th in rushing defense and gave up more than 200 yards on the ground four times. They’re not bringing back defensive tackle Marcell Dareus ($20 million cap savings), and 2018 first-round pick Taven Bryan, who played well in the season finale, has been largely disappointing. Jacksonville has major needs at other positions (linebacker, left tackle, receiver and cornerback), but the defensive front is the key to the team’s resurgence in 2020. — Mike DiRocco

A good point is made about the Jags’ struggles without Marcell Dareus, who was the team’s best run defender without a doubt. Once he was placed on injured reserve due to a core muscle injury that ended with surgery, the Jags began to get gashed up the middle in the run game week in and week out. Still, the unit at least has solid pass-rushers in Yannick Ngakoue, Josh Allen and Calais Campbell, which is why we listed it as our fourth most pressing need.

In looking ahead, the draft will be the place to replenish the Jags’ defensive line issues in the interior because getting a player who is a starting caliber lineman on the defensive line will be expensive. Additionally, if the Jags need to give any defensive lineman a boatload of money in free agency, it’s Ngakoue.

There have been some mocks where Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown has fallen in the Jags lap and he’d be a tremendous addition if the Jags can pull it off. If they can’t land him, I think settling for Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina would be just fine in the eyes of Jags fans.

Listen: Jags Wire discusses Khan’s decision to keep Marrone, Caldwell and Ngakoue’s future with Jags

This past week has been a wild one in the AFC South and it all began with the Jacksonville Jaguars retaining coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell. To discuss the news, Jags Wire contributor Phil Smith and I hit the booth for another …

This past week has been a wild one in the AFC South and it all began with the Jacksonville Jaguars retaining coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell. To discuss the news, Jags Wire contributor Phil Smith and I hit the booth for another episode of “The Jags Den Podcast” to break down Shad Khan’s statements about his decision to keep both, which many fans disagree with.

Afterward, we discussed the messages in which Yannick Ngakoue has been posting on social media and what they mean for his future with the Jags. Lastly, we discussed the odds of Gardner Minshew II being the Jags’ QB1 in 2020 after an impressive rookie season in which he went 6-6 as a starter.

To listen to all of episode 58 and our shows from the past, check out the link below and subscribe to our iTunes page for previous episodes. Listeners can also check us out via the various other interfaces below.

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Jaguars 1 of 5 teams eligible for ‘Hard Knocks’

One of the best parts about the NFL preseason is watching HBO’s “Hard Knocks” show which gives fans a look at the training camp process and storylines of the chosen team. Last year it was the Oakland Raiders who were under the spotlight, and as …

One of the best parts about the NFL preseason is watching HBO’s “Hard Knocks” show which gives fans a look at the training camp process and storylines of the chosen team. Last year it was the Oakland Raiders who were under the spotlight, and as usual, the show provided several entertaining moments.

For the 2020 season, five teams will be eligible for this year’s showing and the Jags are one of them. Alongside the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cardiac Cats meet the criteria of being on the show due to not having a new head coach, not making the playoffs in two years and not appearing on the show within 10 years.

Typically, there isn’t a team that volunteers for the opportunity, so the league ends up forcing a team to be on the show. Of course, the reason for that is because most coaches want to avoid distractions during training camp. With Doug Marrone fighting to improve upon two consecutive double-digit loss seasons, he likely won’t be a fan of the spotlight, but again, no coach that participates ever is.

Upon looking at the competition to be on the show the argument could be made that most would prefer the Steelers or Broncos more than the Jags, Lions and Chargers. Still, between the allure of Gardner Minshew II, Leonard Fournette roasting his teammates weekly, Yannick Ngakoue’s potential contract situation and Shad Khan needing to remove the stench of Tom Coughlin’s culture, the Jags would be quite entertaining on the big screen.