The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to place the franchise tag on edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, but he’s made it abundantly clear that he wants absolutely no part in that.
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
What Ngakoue does want however, is to be a member of the New York Giants, according to ESPN insider Jordan Raanan.
Then there is Yannick Ngakoue, the disgruntled pass-rusher who wants to be a Giant but will receive the franchise tag from the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to a report from ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter. It will take a sign-and-trade deal for the Giants to land Ngakoue. One NFL executive put the price for him at a first-round pick or two second-round picks, the latter more feasible given the Giants select No. 4 overall in the NFL draft.
The “revelation” that Ngakoue wants to be a Giant really isn’t that much of a revelation at all (and no, this is absolutely not a shot at Raanan’s reporting). He has repeatedly flirted with the team on social media this offseason, even sharing pictures of himself photoshopped in a Giants uniform.
Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media also recently reported that the Giants and Ngakoue had a mutual interest.
Had Ngakoue reached free agency, there would have been mutual interest between the Giants and the team and 24-year-old pass-rusher, according to multiple individuals familiar with the Giants’ plans and Ngakoue’s thinking.
The only hope of a Ngakoue-Giants union at this point is a sign-and-trade, which could be exceptionally costly for the Giants, especially since the Jaguars are reportedly seeking a first-round pick and more.
However, if the Jaguars are interested in trading up from No. 9 in the 2020 NFL Draft, perhaps the Giants could compile a package deal where they move back, essentially keeping a first round pick, sent Jacksonville a few additional picks and land Ngakoue in the process.
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