JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Could a resolution for disgruntled Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue be on the horizon?
Michael Lombardi of The Athletic said as much on Wednesday afternoon, tweeting that “Jacksonville is extremely close to trading Yannick Ngakoue today or tomorrow, have a firm offer in place.”
If that report is accurate, then it would end a yearlong battle between the franchise and fifth-year player. Ngakoue has made his desire to leave the Jaguars clear during the offseason, taking to social media time and again to ask for a trade.
According to NFL sources, Jacksonville is extremely close to trading Yannick Ngakoue today or tomorrow, have a firm offer in place--(hearing a two). looks like this holdout will be over soon and Jacksonville will get more picks for their tanking....
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) August 19, 2020
The Jaguars designated Ngakoue their franchise player, although he has yet to sign his tender. That deal would pay him more than $17 million this season.
News4Jax sports analyst and former Jaguars’ quarterback Mark Brunell said that if the Jaguars can get some kind of value for Ngakoue, it’s a no-brainer to make the deal.
“It’s a great move,” Brunell said. “I think Ngakoue has been very clear that he no longer wants to be a part of the Jacksonville Jaguars. And if you’re Ngakoue’s teammate, you may not like it--you understand it.
“You certainly don’t want to be a teammate with someone that just simply does not want to be there. Now there’s always-- as you know--a business side to this, but I always thought Yannick just went a little bit too far. The business side has to be handled by the general managers and the agents. But, he was really clear about wanting to play elsewhere. And if the kid doesn’t want to be a Jaguar, then it’s probably best for all parties that he that goes to the Jets.”
Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said last week that he had been in touch with Ngakoue, who recently fired his agent. Caldwell said that he preferred to keep the nature of those conversations private.
Ngakoue’s issue with the Jaguars popped up during training camp a year ago and has been boiling ever since. He has 37.5 career sacks since being drafted in the third round out of Maryland in 2016.