While there was interest in him, Wednesday’s deadline for franchised players to get a long-term deal passed without Yannick Ngakoue receiving a new deal. Now, regardless as to where he plays in 2020, it will only be on a one-year deal.
The Jacksonville Jaguars holding firm on not trading him didn’t exactly shock anyone as general manager Dave Caldwell said that he thought the young pass-rusher’s options were limited. Additionally, as we saw with Jalen Ramsey, the Jags appear fine with holding on to a disgruntled player until they get what they want.
The downside to the Jags not trading Ngakoue, or signing him to a long-term deal themselves, is that the offers won’t get any better past this point because teams essentially would be acquiring a one-year rental. That almost certainly means that Ngakoue will likely have to suit up with the Jags in 2020 (if he does at all) being that their demands were high before the deadline.
Though the coronavirus pandemic can push things back, the Jags are scheduled to begin training camp in just under two weeks on July 28. If Ngakoue attends and plays under the franchise tag he’ll earn just under $18 million guaranteed. That’s a figure that would be good for the highest cap hit on the team and it also would give him the fifth-highest average when it comes to defensive end salaries.
