NY Jets considered ‘wild card’ in Yannick Ngakoue trade sweepstakes

The NY Jets are considered a ‘wild card’ in the Yannick Ngakoue trade sweepstakes. Here are all the details and what it could mean.

On Sunday, April 12, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report listed six potential landing spots for Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue.

He categorized and ranked each team based on the likelihood of them landing Ngakoue:

• Favorite: Cleveland Browns.
• Potential Bully: Miami Dolphins.
• Can Never Be Counted Out: Philadelphia Eagles.
• Dark Horse: Buffalo Bills.
• Long Shot But Can’t Be Counted Out: NY Giants.
• Wildcard: NY Jets.

Based on this list the Jets should be interested for two big reasons.

Primarily they would improve one of the biggest needs on their team with a young and ferocious pass rusher. Reason No. 2, two other teams inside their own division are interested, if you’re the Jets, by acquiring him you ensure that two other teams (Dolphins, Bills) don’t get him.

Around the NFL Combine, NFL Information Broker Benjamin Allbright revealed that the NY Jets have called the Jaguars and expressed interest.

If you don’t know how good Yannick Ngakoue is, here’s a little taste of what he’s done so far in his young career:

• In his first four seasons, he has registered at least eight sacks every year.
• His 14 forced fumbles in 63 career games are the fourth-highest total in the league during that span, per Bleacher Report.
• Did we mention he’s young? Still, only 25 years of age and he’s remained adamant that his time in Jacksonville is over.

The #Jets Zone w/ @BoyGreen25; @JimNagy_SB, @seniorbowl:– How #coronavirus has affected scouts.– BTS access to chaos of UDFA + possible solutions.– Why "there's not a division in football more wide open than the AFC East in 2020." #NFLDraft #TakeFlighthttps://t.co/HAaR03zQLh

— The Jets Zone (@TheJets_Zone) April 8, 2020

Okay the NY Jets have an obvious need at edge rusher and Yannick Ngakoue is available, but how much is it going to cost?

Despite the fact, Yannick is talented, young, and plays at a premium position the Jaguars aren’t going to get as much as they seek.

While the team holds the 11th overall pick, that is completely out of the question in trade discussions. As Bleacher Report notes in their piece, it likely wouldn’t take that to get the deal done.

The other ammunition the Jets hold includes three “Day 2” selections in the 2020 NFL Draft: second-rounder (48th overall) and a pair of thirds (68th and 79th overall).

Recently we cooked up three potential trade packages the Jacksonville Jaguars should consider. You can view the full details of those deals here.

The last part of this potential deal going through is the contract situation. Yannick Ngakoue is currently on the franchise tag, but he wants a long-term deal. The only way the Jets pull the trigger on this is if they’re able to hand him a long-term extension.

That could prove costly depending on who you ask. The estimated value is over $17 million per season, Ngakoue’s people have reportedly leaked he’s looking for north of $20 million per year. Regardless general manager Joe Douglas is going to have to be willing to satisfy the Jaguars and Yannick with a long-term deal.