As they are prone to do, things are rapidly coming to an ugly head in Jacksonville between the Jaguars organization and a top-shelf player. Standout EDGE Yannick Ngakoue has formally demanded a trade from the team.
Ngakoue has been upset with the team for using the franchise tag on him after making what he’s described as little effort to try and reach a long-term agreement. On his 25th birthday, Ngakoue played the same card Darius Slay did the night before the Lions finally acquiesced to his trade desires: he quote-tweeted a trade note and amplified it up to 11.
From Twitter:
Let’s agree to disagree . Why hold a man from taking care of his family. It’s obvious my time is up in my current situation. Let’s both move on @Jaguars 🏁 https://t.co/XvGcSAQQkH
— Yannick Ngakoue (@YannickNgakoue) March 31, 2020
The Lions certainly seem like a team that would have major interest in a 25-year-old pass rushing specialist with 37.5 sacks in four NFL seasons. That’s five more sacks than Jadeveon Clowney has bagged in six years. Ngakoue can play the JACK role in the Lions defense but is an even better fit as a stand-up rush end capable of flopping sides, the way the Houston Texans often use Whitney Mercilus. Nkagoue’s upfield burst and bend to the QB are a different element than the Lions have had as a pass rusher in quite some time.
What would it take to get Ngakoue?
As was the case with Slay being traded to the Eagles, it first requires the Lions committing to pay Ngakoue a significant new contract. Detroit does have the cap room to make it happen.
Ngakoue’s younger age and greater positional importance dictates a higher return than the 3rd and 5th round picks Slay commanded. My best guess is the Jaguars would want two of the Lions’ three Day 2 picks. Detroit owns No. 35 overall in the second round and two picks in the third.
That’s a similar return to what the Texans received from Seattle for Clowney, who was in this exact same boat a year ago. Houston got a third-round pick and two backup players. Perhaps the Lions’ top third-rounder and LB Jarrad Davis gets it done? It’s a fair starting point in any hypothetical negotiation, at least.