Tag: Yannick Ngakoue

Giants named a potential landing spot for multiple edge rushers

The New York Giants, in need of an improved pass rush, have been named a potential landing spot for several free agent edge rushers.

With needs up and down their roster, the New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen will enter free agency prepared to address multiple positions.

One of those is along the edge where the Giants are desperately lacking outside of Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Although the pass rush need has flown a bit under the radar, the Giants were named as a potential landing spot for multiple edge rushers courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Although it may not be the Giants’ biggest or most glaring need this offseason, it may be one of the most important positions for them to address. With blitz-heavy defensive coordinator Wink Martindale no longer with the team, it will be even more important for the Giants’ defense to generate pressure more organically.

Here is a look at the edge rushers PFF has identified the Giants as a potential landing spot.

6 Edge rushers Minnesota Vikings could target in free agency

With Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport set to hit the free agent market, the Minnesota Vikings need to fill those holes. Here are six options.

Defense was the name of the game for the Minnesota Vikings for much of the 2023 season. When Kirk Cousins went down mid-season and the offense sputtered, the defense was left to pick up the slack. And pick it up they did!

The 2023 Minnesota Vikings defense was a much-improved unit under the tutelage of former Miami Dolphins head coach and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Flores’ defensive scheme kept opposing offenses guessing all season, and the defense is the primary reason why the Vikings were (at least theoretically) still in the NFC playoff picture until the last two weeks of the season.

For better or worse, the Vikings have a lot of talent on the defense that is scheduled to hit the open market during the NFL’s free agency period this year. The biggest name is EDGE rusher Danielle Hunter, but there are a couple of key names – whether starters or depth pieces – with him that could leave.

Whether they leave or re-sign with the Vikings, Minnesota is going to have to be active in the NFL’s free agency period in some capacity to fill out the roster. A roster that could have several large holes, particularly at EDGE rusher. Here are six players who could help plug the hole at that position.

All 10 times the Jaguars have used the franchise tag

The Jaguars appear set to use the franchise tag for a fifth straight offseason.

As of Tuesday, NFL teams are allowed to use the franchise tag or transition tag to retain one player due to become a free agent. And for the fifth straight year, the Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to make use of the tag.

The likeliest scenario is that pass rusher Josh Allen will get the tag after posting a career-best 17.5 sacks during the 2023 season. But even if the Jaguars manage to get a deal done with Allen ahead of the March 5 deadline (which seems unlikely), they’d probably instead use the tag to keep wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

The franchise tag is a tool that guarantees a player, at minimum, a one-year fully guaranteed deal that makes them one of the highest paid players at their position. Teams also have until mid-July to sign a multi-year extension with a tagged player.

While Jacksonville has used it in four straight offseasons, the team only used it six times in the more than two decades prior. Here’s the Jaguars’ entire history of using the franchise tag:

Josh Allen on Jaguars’ sack record: ‘I think about it too much’

Josh Allen is ready to be done chasing the Jaguars’ single-season sack record.

Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen only needs one more sack to tie Calais Campbell’s single-season franchise record and 1.5 sacks to take the title for himself.

It’s a record he’s ready to claim and be done chasing.

“I think about it too much,” Allen said of the record this week. “I’ve got to stop thinking about it. I’ve got to stop thinking about it, just go out there and play football.”

Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell is also ready to see Allen get the job done.

“I wish he got it last week, it’s time for him to get it,” Caldwell said Thursday. “Let’s go get it out of the way. Hopefully he gets it and gets it early, once that happens, I’ll be happy for him. At the end of the day, he understands that’s something special for him. But getting a victory will mean more to him I think.”

Getting sacks and a victory have gone hand in hand for Allen. The Jaguars won all four times the pass rusher recorded at least two sacks this season and six of the seven times he finished with at least a half sack.

In losses to the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the last two weeks, Allen was held to zero sacks.

With 13.5 sacks through 14 games, Allen has already passed Tony Brackens and Yannick Ngakoue, who were tied for the second most sacks in a Jaguars season, with 12 each.

Allen, who is scheduled to become a free agent in the offseason, is 14 sacks behind Brackens for the franchise’s career record of 55 sacks.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

What Yannick Ngakoue’s loss means for Bears defense

The Bears need these players to step up in Yannick Ngakoue’s absence.

The Chicago Bears were dealt a blow with defensive end Yannick Ngakoue suffering a broken ankle that will sideline him for the remainder of the season.

It’s disappointing considering Chicago’s defense was just hitting its stride, where they’ve become a top-five unit since the addition of Montez Sweat. Since Week 9, the Bears defense ranks fifth in total defense (272.2 ypg), fifth in pass defense (180.6 ypg), ninth in scoring defense (18.2 ppg) and is tied for second in total takeaways (11), according to NFL Research.

Ngakoue, who signed a one-year deal worth $10.5 million this offseason, only had four sacks this season (marking the first time in his seven-year career where he hasn’t finished a season with at least eight. But head coach Matt Eberflus believes Ngakoue was close to more.

“There were a lot of times he had (the quarterback) in the chute there and he could have got him down,” Eberflus said. “We just have to do a good job of finishing and … wrapping up the quarterback, strip-sacking as you come through. And I think he could have had at least three or four more – at least.”

As for how the Bears will compensate for Ngakoue’s loss in terms of getting more pressure, Eberflus joked they’re going to “blitz every snap.”

In actuality, Chicago is going to need other players to step up in Ngakoue’s absence. There will be more opportunities for defensive ends DeMarcus Walker, Rasheem Green, Dominque Robinson, as well as rookie defensive tackles Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens.

“Everybody’s going to have an uptick in reps because of the loss of Yannick,” Eberflus said.

Bears DE Yannick Ngakoue out for season with broken ankle

Bears edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue suffered a broken ankle last Sunday and will be placed on season-ending IR.

Chicago Bears defensive end Yannick Ngakoue suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Sunday’s win against the Detroit Lions, head coach Matt Eberflus announced Wednesday.

Ngakoue suffered a broken ankle late in Sunday’s game against the Lions, and he played through it. Eberflus said it happened on one of the final plays, although he’s not sure specifically which play it happened on. Ngakoue will need surgery and will land on season-ending injured reserve.

As for how the Bears will compensate for Ngakoue’s loss in terms of getting more pressure, Eberflus joked: “Blitz every snap.”

The Bears signed Ngakoue to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million this offseason, where he served as the team’s top edge rusher until the team acquired Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders in Week 9.

Ngakoue finishes this season with 4.0 sacks, making this the first time in his seven-year career where he hasn’t totaled at least eight sacks.

 

The Bears’ pass rush has made substantial progress in sacks, where they have 10 in the last four games (compared to 11 in the first nine games). Ngakoue’s loss isn’t ideal, so Eberflus will have to get creative when it comes to creating consistent pressure up front.

With Ngakoue sidelined, there will be opportunities for defensive ends DeMarcus Walker, Rasheem Green and Dominique Robinson (who’s been a healthy scratch for the last six games), along with defensive linemen like Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens to create pressure.

6 things to know ahead of Bears vs. Raiders in Week 7

The Bears are looking to get back in the win column when they host the Raiders in Week 7. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the game.

Pessimism regarding the Chicago Bears is at a season-high following last week’s disappointing loss to the rival Minnesota Vikings.

Not only did the team fail to match their offensive splendor that they displayed in Week 5, but the Bears also lost quarterback Justin Fields to a thumb injury that may keep him out a few weeks. Any hopes of a miraculous playoff run are all but dead, and questions are once again being raised about the future prospects of head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, as well as Fields himself.

With so much ire polluting the air, it’ll be good to take a breath and look forward to next week’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The two teams have a surprising amount of connective tissue, from both starting signal-callers having various injury issues to a blockbuster trade that fundamentally changed the direction of their respective franchises.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of Bears vs. Raiders in Week 7.

5 biggest storylines ahead of Bears vs. Vikings in Week 6

The Bears are aiming to build a winning streak against the Vikings. Here’s a look at the biggest storylines for Week 6.

Week 6 is upon us, and it’s shaping up to be a good one. The Chicago Bears will host the Minnesotqa Vikings for Sunday afternoon action.

The two teams are surprisingly evenly matched, as Minnesota has fallen well short of the expectation they set following their 13-4 season that included a postseason berth. It’ll be a game of two explosive offenses, with two fittingly bad defenses that will allow the opposing offense to do their work.

Chicago has the chance to create a winning streak, and the Vikings have the opportunity to begin to right a disastrous start to the season. With so much at stake, there are bound to be interesting narratives to keep track of.

Let’s discuss the five biggest storylines ahead of Bears vs. Vikings in Week 6.

3 key matchups ahead of Bears vs. Vikings in Week 6

The Bears are looking to get a divisional win against the Vikings in Week 6. We breakdown some key matchups to watch.

The Chicago Bears square off in a divisional Week 6 showdown with the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, and it’s shaping up to be one of the more exciting NFC North battles in a long while.

Justin Fields and the offense finally began to click, averaging 34 points in the past two games, and the defense took some big steps forward in getting sacks and turnovers. Conversely, the Vikings find themselves in an extremely winnable game, even without star receiver Justin Jefferson.

Whether the Bears win or lose, the game should be a fun one. Let’s go over every key matchup from the game and discuss what Chicago needs to do move up the ladder of the NFC North.

5 keys to a Bears victory over the Vikings in Week 6

The Bears take on the Vikings looking for their second straight win. Here are five keys to a Chicago victory.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up to host the rival Minnesota Vikings in Week 6, and it’s a tale of two 1-4 teams who have drastically different outlooks on their seasons.

Chicago is coming off a statement win against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football, which saw quarterback Justin Fields throw four touchdown passes, and the team is nearly at full strength as key players return from injury.

Minnesota, on the other hand, is falling well short of expectations following a 13-4 2022 campaign. And their most recent loss to the Chiefs was only made things worse when perennial All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson was placed on injured reserve this week. The Vikings are wounded, and they’re looking at the Bears as a real Viking would look at his prey after starving for days.

Despte the loss of Jefferson, the purple and gold will not give up the win easily. Chicago needs to succeed in five key categories in order to take down their divisional foe from the snow-capped north of Minnesota.

Let’s break down the five keys to a Bears victory against the Vikings in Week 6.