Myles Jack’s contract further exposes Jaguars need to sign Yannick Ngakoue

The Jaguars did the right thing by extending linebacker Myles Jack. But when will a deal for Yannick Ngakoue get done?

The Jacksonville Jaguars did the right thing in locking up linebacker Myles Jack for the next five years here in DUUUVAL on Saturday. The question is when will news surface that a deal between the team and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is on paper and ready for signature.

Like many Jaguars fans, I still hold out hope that a deal can get done before the end of the season and the pass rusher remains in black and teal for five more years. It’s troublesome to most that the Jaguars have extended Jack, picked up the fifth-year option on Jalen Ramsey’s rookie deal, but have not reached an agreement with one of the best young pass rushers in the NFL.

Now, as I stated on Twitter, I wonder out loud what Ngakoue thinks about the deal his teammate got and will and his agent continue to negotiate with the Jaguars knowing they offered him a “short-term” deal of four years prior to the start of training camp?

It’s a saga that may play out behind the scenes while the former third-round draft pick out of Maryland enters his fourth year of a rookie deal that will pay him just over $2 million this season.

"“The Jaguars are signing Myles Jack to a contract extension that makes him the third-highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter,” writes Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.“The four-year extension through 2023 is worth $57 million and includes $33 million guaranteed. Jack will make $14.25 million annually when the extension kicks in, which trails only Bobby Wagner ($18 million) and C.J. Mosley ($17 million) in annual salary among inside linebackers.”"

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When the Dallas Cowboys signed Jaylon Smith to a five-year extension worth $64 million with $35.5 million guaranteed, attention quickly turned to Jack, who had a solid season for the Jaguars last season and will start 2019 in the middle as the “quarterback” of this defense. Nothing would be better than Jack showing how worthy he is of the new deal by making a Pro Bowl appearance and potentially showing up on an All-Pro roster this season.

"“Jack has never missed a game in his three seasons and has started 42 games (the past 34 in a row) in the regular season. He has 219 tackles, five sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception,” DiRocco adds. “He also has 16 tackles, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery in three playoff games.”"

For Ngakoue, it’s now more about going out, performing at the same level as he has done the last three seasons and teaming with Josh Allen to give Jacksonville two of the best rush ends in the NFL for the future.

If the Jaguars can sign him to that elusive long-term deal before he walks in free agency.

The other option is to use the franchise tag for him after the season before free agency to keep him for the next season.

"“In a nutshell, the franchise tag is a one-year deal that holds the player’s rights with a team,” explains Charles McDonald. “This prevents that player from becoming a free agent. Each team only gets one tag per year, but not every team uses it.”"

The Jaguars will also have to deal with a new contract for Jalen Ramsey and determine which high-priced veterans to keep and release based on performance and cap space. Let’s not get started with that issue right now.

The Ngakoue saga still looms as the team celebrates the deal Jack deserved. Now, if the front office can figure out a way to keep all three of their young stars together for the next five seasons, the defense will remain a dominant force. Right now, many of us aren’t optimistic it will happen.

There is still time to get this done. But as all know, the NFL season is only17 weeks long and Ngakoue has already waited long enough to be rewarded for his efforts.

The sad thing is while Jack’s contract was the right thing to do, it will be overshadowed because the Jaguars haven’t locked up a young pass rusher – a player who is a priority for the success of this franchise.