There is no reason for the Jaguars to trade their star pass rusher to any NFL team.
Let the rumor mill begin. On the day that Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue did not show up for training camp, the talk immediately began of trading the former Pro Bowler. With all apologies to our friends over at Baltimore Beatdown, the Jaguars are not going to trade Ngakoue to the Ravens because of a contract dispute.
As head coach Doug Marrone told the media this morning prior to the start of training camp, Ngakoue will report to camp, but he did not know when that will happen. He also said he has been in communication with his star pass rusher. Through several sources, Ngakoue turned down a short-term deal with the team for an average salary of $19 million per season with somewhere around $50 million over the first two years.
How far apart the team and Ngakoue’s agent are is unknown.
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Once the news came out of Ngakoue not reporting to the Jaguars facility when veterans were supposed to show up, speculation grew as to what would it take to get the third-round pick out of Maryland from 2016 in camp.
"“In Jacksonville, he hasn’t received as much national attention as he deserves,” writes Spencer Shultz. “He has one of the best pass-rushing moves in football, a truly lethal cross body chop.”"
Regardless of the comments made by the writer and the scenario of bringing Ngakoue back to his college home, it’s the idea of a trio of pass rushers headlined by himself along with Calais Campbell and Josh Allen that has the Jaguars front office salivating for the upcoming season.
Ngakoue was present for a handful of the team’s OTAs but missed mandatory minicamp, citing the dispute with his contract.
There is no doubt Ngakoue has outplayed the rookie contract he signed out of college that will pay him just over $2 million this season. He has registered 29.5 sacks in three seasons and he and Campbell form one of the better pass rushing duos in the NFL.
"“The Jags edge wants a new contract,” Shultz continues. “He’s currently holding out of training camp in Jacksonville in an attempt to get one. The market value for Ngakoue’s production is certainly worth more than the $2 million he will make in 2019.”"
With Allen on the sidelines during OTAs and minicamp because of a knee contusion and Ngakoue staying home, the Jaguars pass rush was thin, but allowed other players to make an impression on the coaching staff. Still, having both players on the field makes a good defense even better.
Jacksonville cannot afford to start the 2019 season with one of the best players on the team stuck in neutral over a new deal he deserves.