The Jaguars will use their franchise tag on defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, according to ESPN. Ngakoue would have been a Jets target in free agency, but any possible union between the two is now more complicated.
The tag will allow Jacksonville to try and trade Ngakoue if the two sides cannot come to an agreement on a contract extension. Ngakoue has been adamant that he doesn’t want to return Jacksonville and took to Twitter to reaffirm this Monday morning.
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
The franchise tag carries an approximate salary of $19.3 million in 2020. Ngakoue has made it pretty clear that he has no intention of signing the franchise tag.
Whether the Jaguars plan to keep Ngakoue remains to be seen. In the meantime, they also could be following the strategy of the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs just an offseason ago, when both teams tagged and traded defensive ends Frank Clark and Dee Ford, respectively.
Despite Jamal Adams naming Ngakoue to his wishlist of free agents, it’s hard to envision the Jets forfeiting a high-end draft choice for Ngakoue in addition to signing him to a lofty contract. Adams also named edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler Jr. as fits for the Jets.
Joe Douglas has mentioned getting an edge rusher at the top of the Jets’ to-do list this offseason. Sacks haven’t been easy to come by for New York, which will surely look to get more out of that position, whether it’s acquiring Ngakoue or targeting Clowney, Fowler, Matthew Judon and Shaquil Barrett.
At the age of 24, Ngakoue has already amassed 37.5 career sacks, as well as 14 forced fumbles. He had eight sacks and set a career-high with 41 tackles and tied his career-high with 13 tackles for loss in 2019.
It’s unlikely the Jets will enter the Ngakoue sweepstakes due to the presumably high-price tag of a high Day 2 pick. Regardless, the Jets will seek an edge rusher who can bring an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball.