The Jaguars need to extend Yannick Ngakoue now
Will the Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue need to come to a contractual agreement now before the end of the season.
Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue should be the team’s top priority before the start of free agency next season. In four seasons with the Jaguars, Ngakoue has accounted for 97 tackles, 31.5 sacks, and 11 forced fumbles.
Ngakoue is a cornerstone piece for the team’s defense, being a part of the 2017 unit that carried the team to the AFC Conference Championship. In that season, Ngakoue had 12 sacks along with six forced fumbles. After a slow start to the 2019 season, it appears that Ngakoue and the Jaguars defensive front is coming alive.
Ngakoue hasn’t been a financial hit on the Jaguars salary cap since coming into the league as a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. In four seasons with the team, Ngakoue will only make around $3.5M. It was previously reported that contract talks between Ngakoue and the organization broke down after the team offered the Pro-Bowler a short term contract worth around $19M a year.
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Now that the team has moved on from cornerback Jalen Ramsey and signed linebacker Myles Jack to a contract extension, will the front office make another offer to the defensive end to keep him in a Jaguars uniform for the foreseeable future?
Ramsey was sent to Los Angeles Rams for two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder, which opens the door for a bigger contract extension for Ngakoue. The money that would have gone to Ramsey can now be allocated to Ngakoue.
What would a contract extension for Ngakoue look like? The highest-paid pass rusher, Khalil Mack, currently is on a six-year, $141M deal. Surely Ngakoue wouldn’t command for that money.
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.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 24, 2019
A contract more suitable for the skills of Ngakoue falls around the Von Miller (six-year, $114M), Demarcus Lawrence (five-year, $105M) or J.J. Watt (six-year, $100M) range. It is also possible the Jaguars front office might want to work out a deal more closely toward the Trey Flowers (five-year, $90M), or Dee Ford/Olivier Vernon contract (five-year, $85M), especially with rookie pass rusher Josh Allen on the roster.
Allen leads the team with five sacks this season. Even with the rookie on the roster, it would be best for the team to keep both him and Ngakoue together, as having a pair of dangerous pass rushers is hard to come by in the NFL.
Currently with $11.5M to work with, Jacksonville will need to make important roster decisions in an effort to give Ngakoue a worthy pass rusher contract. Some could include the release of defensive tackles Marcell Dareus and Abry Jones, offensive guard Andrew Norwell, and fan favorite Calais Campbell.
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The first three picks of the Jaguars 2016 draft class is considered one of the best in team history. With changes made this season it the team’s roster, it is imperative for the front office to retain Ngakoue and keep the defense strong for years to come.