The Jacksonville Jaguars saw Yannick Ngakoue as a mainstay of their defense after a strong start to his NFL career. However, their relationship soured to the point of no return, and they ended up trading him to the Minnesota Vikings in 2020. While Ngakoue enjoyed a bit of success right after his stint with the Jags, the latest news showed that he's fallen from grace in recent years.
The New England Patriots announced that they've waived Ngakoue after claiming him off waivers in November. During his brief tenure in Foxborough, the veteran defenders logged a measly three pressures and two quarterback hits on 116 pass-rush snaps.
Before suiting up with the Pats, Ngakoue was on the Baltimore Ravens roster. He was equally ineffective, registering 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits in five games. All things considered, this isn't much different from his time with the Chicago Bears in 2023.
During his lone season in the Windy City, Ngakoue logged 4.0 sacks and six quarterback hits in 13 games. In his defense, he dealt with injuries, but there was still a clear drop-off compared to 2022. That year, he had 9.5 sacks as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
By now, you have probably noticed a theme. Not only has Ngakokue been ineffective, but he's struggled to stay with a team for a long. Aside from his two stints in Baltimore, he also spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. Following his release by the Patriots, the former Maryland Terrapin could have trouble finding work.
Sure, teams are always looking for pass rushers, and maybe Ngakoue has been held back by injuries. Having said that, he's not done much of note the past two years and will have to convince teams that he can still get after the quarterback. This is to say that barring a surprise, the Washington D.C. native won't get much demand for his services and might need to compete for a roster spot in 2025.
Things went off the rails after Yannick Ngakoue left the Jaguars
A third-round pick in 2016, Yannick Ngkaoue was an impact player for the Jacksonville Jaguars, registering 37.5 sacks, 14 lost fumbles, and two interceptions. But instead of giving him a new contract after his rookie deal expired, the team's brass applied the franchise tag on him.
Ngakoue didn't take it well and forced a trade to the Minnesota Vikings. The Jags ended up getting a second-round selection in 2021, which they used to select left tackle Walker Little.
In retrospect, things played out well for Jacksonville, as Little just signed a three-year deal worth $45 million that ensures he'll remain in place for years to come. The same cannot be said for Ngakoue, who's had somewhat of a nomadic career, and it all happened because he reportedly wanted to become the highest-paid edge rusher in the league in 2020.
You can say what you want about former general manager Dave Caldwell and ex-vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin. But at least in Ngakoue's case, the duo made him a respectable offer, one that would pay him around $19 million per year, and up to $50 million the first two years.
Sure, the Jags would've still struggled in 2020 even if Ngakoue had stayed, but he wouldn't have had to look for a new team every year. And all because he overestimated his value.