Jacksonville Jaguars: Moving franchise tag deadline affects team’s decision making

The Jacksonville Jaguars get a little more time to determine how to handle the situation with disgruntled defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

According to John Reid of The Florida Times-Union and other sports outlets, The NFL and NFLPA agreed to push back the deadline for players to vote on the new proposed collective bargaining agreement to Saturday instead of Thursday. The move affects the Jacksonville Jaguars and the other 31 teams in the league.

With movement on times and dates and no vote on the CBA, it means the front office has more time to make a decision regarding Yannick Ngakoue and whether to use the franchise tag to secure his services for either the 2020 season or to work an agreement for the 24-year-old pass rusher. Either way, the 11th-hour decision by the league and the NFLPA buys the front office a little more time, but not much.

Ngakoue has made his feelings known about a long-term deal in Jacksonville, balking at the notion of being here this coming season. The Jaguars’ front office has stood by its belief in trying to work out a deal that will keep one of the premier pass rushers in Jacksonville in 2020 and beyond. Evidently, the issues stemming from broken contract negotiations from kast offseason still linger. Ngakoue could still sign a long-term deal with the team if he has a change of heart.

He is asking for a contract based on $22M per season per several reports.

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For now, the Jaguars must concentrate on preparing for a fast and furious time period before free agency officially begins March 18.

"“We’re all trying to find out the details of that (of the proposed new CBA) and we haven’t gotten it yet,” Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said at the NFL Scouting Combine, per Reid. “If it does pass, the NFL will probably do a workshop with all the general managers.”"

The Jaguars have other business to conduct as well with existing potential free agents. The front office must also determine if it can renegotiate hefty veteran contracts to free up more salary-cap space. Calais Campbell, Brandon Linder, Andrew Norwell, and Marqise Lee have all been mentioned.

Jacksonville has already released Marcell Dareus and Jake Ryan. Last week, it was announced that cornerback. A.J. Bouye has been traded to Denver for a fourth-round draft pick.

The Jaguars own 10 picks in next month’s NFL Draft. With needs at several positions, this is a chance for the organization to fill holes on both sides of the football. It is believed the team will focus heavily on the defensive line and potentially on the offensive line and brining in more weapons on offense.

"“The Jaguars have $32.3 million in available cap space before designating the tag. Once they apply the tag, Ngakoue’s entire guaranteed salary would count against the cap, meaning they would have only $13 million in available cap space,” Reid writes."

If the team does use the franchise tag for Ngakoue, it would cost them $19.3M for the 2020 season.