Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue won’t play another game for Jacksonville Jaguars after all. According to multiple reports, Jaguars agreed to trade Ngakoue to Minnesota Vikings in exchange for multiple draft picks.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Jags are set to receive a second-round pick in 2021 and a conditional fifth-round selection in 2022 as part of the trade. The fifth-rounder will turn into a fourth-rounder if Ngakoue makes the Pro Bowl selection in 2020. If the Vikings win the Super Bowl on top of that, the pick will become a third-rounder.
Since Jacksonville placed a franchise tag on Ngakoue, he is required to sign his tender before the deal becomes official. According to ESPN, this won’t be an issue as the player will not only accept the trade but also agreed to take a pay-cut. Instead of $17.8 million he was supposed to make under the tag, Ngakoue agreed to a $12 million salary this season.
Yannick Ngakoue said in early March that he doesn’t want to play for Jacksonville Jaguars anymore, being unhappy with the outcome of the contract negotiations between two sides. Jags placed a franchise tag on him regardless, and were hoping to repair the broken relationship.
When Ngakoue reiterated his determination to leave Jacksonville, the organization started taking trade calls from other teams. The Jags initially wanted a first-round pick, but it appears they settled for a lesser package in order to enable both sides to start fresh.
Ngakoue, who was a third-round selection in 2016, was one of the key parts of Jags’ defense, missing only one game since entering the NFL. His career stats include 122 tackles, 37.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns.
