Yannick Ngakoue could be on the Buffalo Bills’ radar once free agency opens in March. The former first-round pick of the Jaguars is likely to hit free agency.
Not only might the Bills need a replacement for Shaq Lawson, who’s also heading toward free agency, the Bills just need more sacks in general from the defensive end position. Does Ngakoue fit the bill?
Well if he does for Buffalo, it’s reportedly going to cost them. Per ESPN, Ngakoue, 24, is looking to become the highest-paid defensive end in the NFL. That type of deal is said to be near $22 million per season on a long-term contract.
The Bills are currently entering the offseason with $83 million in cap space, the third-most in the NFL. Buffalo does run a rotation along their defensive line, but could still stand to use a player such as Ngakoue. His career-low single-season sack total is eight. Lawson, who led Buffalo’s defensive ends in sacks last season, had a career-high of 6.5. However, Lawson thrived where Ngakoue does not, as a run defender. Ngakoue’s career-high in a season is 12.5.
But per Pro Football Focus, Ngakoue had a run-stop percentage of 7.6 percent with 21 stops in 278 run snaps. That tied him with Nick Bosa for the 18th best total in the NFL last season. Bosa was the Defensive Rookie of the Year for the 49ers. PFF also interesting predicted that Buffalo will sign Ngakoue to a contract this offseason, averaging $19.5 million per season, though.
In regard to his hopes, the former Pro Bowler all but confirmed his desires in free agency with this tweet this week:
God is GRACIOUS https://t.co/Dq1t9e7qLo
— Yannick Ngakoue (@YannickNgakoue) February 25, 2020
While the Bills could certainly afford Ngakoue in the short term, the team also has to consider young players such as Tre’Davious White and Matt Milano, who are due for a pay raise for the 2020 season as well. Free agency could get interesting for the Bills and general manager Brandon Beane.
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