Despite the rumors that surfaced recently, Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said that the organization wasn’t able to get any offers for disgruntled defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (and perhaps didn’t try). As a result, Caldwell, who remains careful about speaking on the situation, said he thinks Ngakoue’s options are limited heading forward but stressed that he’d love to have him back.
“I try to be very pragmatic about it,” Caldwell said Thursday evening. “Truth be told, we exercised the franchise tender. We weren’t able to get a trade. Actually, weren’t even really able to get an offer. So, I think his options are very limited at this point in time.”
“We’ll welcome him back with open arms when he’s ready to come back and we look forward to it. Yann, for the people on this call and who have been around him realize he is a tremendous player, tremendous person, has always been first-class in everything he’s done here in the locker room and through his time here, the first four years of his contract.”
As most are aware, the Jags’ non-exclusive franchise tag was assigned to Ngakoue on March 13, which is the day he also came out to say he didn’t want to spend his future with the team. Earlier this week, he also got into an exchange on social media with Jags front office executive and son of Shad Khan, Tony Khan, demanding that the team trade him. Yet, it appears the Jags are still fine with him remaining with the organization, but only time will tell if Ngakoue comes around.
Under the tag, a team would have to surrender two first-round picks to sign Ngakoue. However, if he does sign the franchise tag, it will guarantee him just under $18 million.
The Jags don’t appear certain he’ll be returning to the field with them after selecting Louisiana State pass-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson with the No. 20 overall pick. He’ll join the Jags’ first-round pick from 2019, Josh Allen, to provide some pass-rush for the Jags’ defense which lost a lot of veterans this offseason. That said, if Ngakoue miraculously decided to return, the Jags’ pass-rushing corps would be very interesting.
