At least one of the Houston Texans’ AFC South opponents is going to be weaker throughout free agency.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue announced on Twitter Monday that the club is aware that he is no longer interested in signing a long-term deal with the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
“The Jaguars are aware I no longer have interest in signing a long term contract in Jacksonville,” Ngakoue tweeted. “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”
Ngakoue is set to hit the free agent market as an unrestricted free agent when the new league year kicks off at 3:00 p.m. Central Time on March 18. Any team looking to sign Ngakoue would have to expect to sign him to a contract worth $21 million annually.
Houston currently has the ninth-most salary cap space in the NFL at $61.3 million, according to Over the Cap.
If the Texans were to bring in Ngakoue, one issue they would have to figure out is how to insert him into defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme. The Texans have been a 3-4 defense since 2011, and Ngakoue has played in nothing but the 4-3 as a down lineman. Ngakoue’s vital statistics are comparable to Jadeveon Clowney’s: 6-2, 246 pounds to Clowney’s 6-5, 255 pounds. Possibly, the Texans could have Ngakoue play a similar role.
If nothing else, the fact Ngakoue wants to get out of Jacksonville means the Jaguars won’t have as formidable of a pass rush when the Texans face them twice a year in 2020. Ngakoue produced 3.5 sacks against the Texans in his seven career games against Houston. 1.5 of those sacks came against quarterback Deshaun Watson. With Ngakoue set to leave Duval County, things could be a little easier for the Texans in 2020 as they seek to repeat as division champions for a third straight season, a feat not seen in the AFC South since 2003-07 when the Indianapolis Colts won five straight division titles.
