If the Giants are going to acquire defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, it’s not going to come that easy.
The Jacksonville Jaguars franchise-tagged the 24-year-old on Monday morning despite the pass rusher making it clear that he will not commit his long-term future to the team.
“The Jaguars are aware I no longer have interest in signing a long term contract in Jacksonville,” Ngakoue wrote on his Twitter. “Duval, I love you and gave you guys everything I got. I’m thankful for the journey and look forward to continuing my career elsewhere.”
Three minutes after posting that message, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Jaguars’ decision to franchise tag him, which will allow the team to trade him and get something in return for his eventual departure.
Ngakoue could refuse to play the 2020 season with the Jaguars just like Le’Veon Bell did when he sat the entire 2018 season when the Pittsburgh Steelers used the franchise tag on him.
Bell didn’t see the field until 2019 when he signed a four-year deal with the Jets.
NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo reported that if Ngakoue had reached free agency this offseason, “there would have been mutual interest,” between him and the Giants.
Now if the Giants want him in 2020, they’ll have to trade for him.
Normally, a player of Ngakoue’s caliber would command a decently sizable price on the trade market. Over his first four seasons, he has put up 37.5 sacks, 85 quarterback hits, and 42 tackles for a loss while missing all but one game.
But Ngakoue’s desire to leave Jacksonville puts the Jaguars in a difficult situation. If they don’t trade him, he’ll sit in 2020. That makes the Jaguars the more desperate side on the market, meaning they won’t hold leverage in negotiations.
That means the Jaguars would either have to sell him at a discounted price or they’ll watch him sit for a year. Either way, he won’t be contributing to their cause.
The Houston Texans’ trade of Jadeveon Clowney — who made it clear that he wouldn’t return in 2020 — to the Seattle Seahawks last year could be a template for what the Giants might have to give up. Seattle parted ways with Jacob Martin, Barkevious Mingo, and a third-round draft pick.
Parting with a similar group of assets for Ngakoue would allow the Giants to boost their pass rush, which has been in dire need of improvements over recent years.
They’ll have the money to secure him for the long haul, too, while addressing other important needs along the depth chart with approximately $74 million in cap space.
