Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue will not be at minicamp

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue has announced he will not attend mandatory minicamp because his contract situation has not been resolved.

Which side will flinch first? Will it be the Jacksonville Jaguars front office or will it be defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

Per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, the Jaguars will open their three-day mandatory minicamp without Ngakoue, who is sitting out practice on Tuesday through Thursday because of a contract dispute. The former third-round draft pick in 2016 is eligible to have his contract extended in the final year of its deal.

Because Ngakoue was not a first-round pick – by the result of his play the past three seasons, he should have been – there is no fifth-year option. The Jaguars and Ngakoue’s agent will need to work out a new agreement or the former Pro Bowler could walk after this season.

That would be bad news for the Jaguars, who still have Calais Campbell in camp. First-round draft pick Josh Allen may sit out of the minicamp because of an injury he suffered in OTAs.

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"“I will not be attending minicamp as my contract has not been resolved,” Ngakoue said in a statement according to Schefter. “I remain committed to Jacksonville, the fans and my teammates. My hope is to be with Jacksonville for years to come.”"

Over three seasons, Ngakoue has totaled 29.5 sacks. He and Campbell have formed one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL in that time.

"Per Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, “Ngakoue missed parts of the team’s voluntary conditioning program but said after the first of the team’s 10 scheduled voluntary organized team activities that he planned on attending every OTA and the mandatory minicamp.“He also said he was willing to play the 2019 season without a new deal, even though he risked losing significant money if he was injured.”"

Per sportrac.com, Ngakoue signed a 4 year, $3,480,587 contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including an $856,176 signing bonus, $856,176 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $870,147. In 2019, Ngakoue will earn a base salary of $2,025,000, while carrying a cap hit of $2,239,044 and a dead cap value of $214,044.

Ngakoue may have leverage in demanding to be paid as other defensive ends who got new deals this offseason.

"Per arrowheadaddict.com, Frank Clark, after being traded from Seattle, “The Chiefs have reportedly agreed to pay Clark up to $105.5 million over the course of the next five seasons with $63 million of that guaranteed.”"

He is not the only pass rusher who cashed in this offseason. Demarcus Lawrence of the Dallas Cowboys also got a new deal this offseason. Per NFL.com, Lawrence, agreed to terms on a five-year, $105 million extension with $65 million in guarantees.

Also, Trey Flowers left the New England Patriots this offseason and signed a free agent deal that will pay him $90 million, including $56 million guaranteed over five seasons with the Detroit Lions.