Yannick Ngakoue does not report to Jaguars training camp

Will Jaguars star pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue hold out until a new contract offer is made?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have announced that star defensive end Yannick Ngakoue has been placed on the team’s reserve/did not report list. It was also announced that linebacker Telvin Smith, a sixth-year linebacker who announced in May he did not plan to play in 2019, was placed on the team’s reserve/retired list.

The news of Ngakoue not appearing at the team’s complex on the day veterans were supposed to arrive for the start of training camp is not that big a surprise. The fourth-year veteran participated in only a handful of OTAs and was absent from mandatory minicamp because of a contract dispute with the franchise.

The former third-round pick out of Maryland in 2016 – the same NFL Draft that produced Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack, told the media when he was asked that money wasn’t the issue and that he would continue to participate with his teammates.

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Ngakoue then changed his tune as he missed time away from the team for the voluntary portion of the Jaguars offseason workout program. He also informed the team he would not participate in minicamp because of the contract situation.

"The Jaguars and Ngakoue’s agent have discussed a deal for the pass rusher. According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, “The Jaguars offered DE Yannick Ngakoue a short-term deal worth over $19 million per year with $50M-plus over the first two years before talks broke off yesterday, per league source. Ngakoue not reporting with his teammates today. If/when he does, it may be on his rookie deal.”"

As of right now, there is no news of any other negotiations between both sides. If he does play the 2019 season on the last year of his rookie deal, Ngakoue is scheduled to make $2.025 million. His production the first three seasons in the league would suggest he has outplayed what he signed for in 2016. He has 29.5 sacks and was a 2017 Pro Bowl player, finishing second on the team with 12 sacks. Last season, he registered 9.5 sacks.

The question this offseason here in Jacksonville has been whether the team would give Ngakoue a deal that is similar to Demarcus Lawrence of Dallas and Frank Clark of Kansas City. But received deals of five years and over $100 million.

The main issue with the contract Pelissero mentioned via his Twitter account may have to do with length and that Ngakoue make have sought a long-term deal. The Jaguars are not in a salary-cap friendly position at the moment.