Jaguars to Tag DE Yannick Ngakoue, But the Player Wants Out

Yannick Ngakoue during Patriots Training Camp in 2017.
Yannick Ngakoue during Patriots Training Camp in 2017. Photo by Eric Canha/CSM/Shutterstock (8988001q)

Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to tag their defensive end Yannick Ngakoue according to the sources around the league. And while the team expected to use this tool in order to have more time to negotiate a long-term deal with the 24-year-old, it seems like Ngakoue isn’t interested in this scenario.

After the news broke out, Ngakoue went on Twitter to reveal that he doesn’t wish to stay in Jacksonville any longer.

“The Jaguars are aware I no longer have interest in signing a long term contract in Jacksonville,” Ngakoue wrote. “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.”

Ngakoue, who played out his rookie deal, wanted to get a new deal in the summer of 2019. Jags were also keen to get the job done, but the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement on salary. The highest Jacksonville was prepared to go was $19 million a year, while the player was pushing towards $22 million.

After the negotiations broke down, Ngakoue decided to skip the OTAs and the beginning of the training camp before joining the team. He finished 2019 with 41 tackles, 8.0 sacks, one interception, and one defensive touchdown.

In case the Jags don’t manage to convince Yannick Ngakoue to stay, the team will most likely start shopping him to other NFL teams in order to get some assets back. So far it is unclear what kind of return Jacksonville could get for Ngakoue, but considering his production in recent years, any negotiations would have to start around second-round pick mark.

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