Veteran pass rusher and one-time Pro Bowler Yannick Ngakoue is one of the best names remaining on the free agent market. The former third-round pick is coming off a 9.5-sack season but is hoping to find the right fit for his next NFL home. Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Ngakoue said he wants to play for a contender and land a multi-year deal.
"I definitely want to play for a contender, play for a team and organization that wants to win a Super Bowl."
FA DE @YannickNgakoue discussed the free agency process and how he would love a multi-year deal.#NFLFreeAgency | @BruceMurrayNFL | @Spielman_Rick pic.twitter.com/EtBXY3znsm
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) June 2, 2023
Yannick Ngakoue Gives Preferred Team Destinations
The Interview
Despite a solid track record, Yannick Ngakoue hasn’t found a consistent NFL home over the past few seasons. Since his 2019 trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the former third-round pick has played for four different organizations, and the edge defender is hoping he can a long-term team in free agency.
“For me, personally, I’ve been to a couple of stops and instead of doing these visits, I’m ready to have a stable home and just to be able to be on a multi-year deal, I can be able to ground myself and start on things, really focusing on my family and trying to start a family, things like that.”
The edge rusher wasn’t done there, as he also wants to play on a team with a real chance to win it all in 2023. Yannick Ngakoue spent the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts, so it’s easy to why he’d want to play for a winning team.
“At this stage in my career, being in my later 20s, I definitely want to play for a contender, play for a team and organization that wants to win a Super Bowl…Hopefully, I can gain some great interest from a contender.”
Seeing as it’s already June, teams are now free to sign free agents without having to worry about the compensatory pick formula. Yannick Ngakoue is only 28 and recorded 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons, so he should be able to find an NFL home, the only question is which teams fit his needs.
Teams That Could Use Yannick Ngakoue
If we assume that Ngakoue will only sign with a legitimate contender, then the frontrunner could very well be the Kansas City Chiefs. After cutting Frank Clark, the team is relying on several young and unproven players to get after the quarterback. Ngakoue would provide a much-needed veteran presence, and his shortcomings as a run defender won’t matter as much, as opposing offenses will constantly be throwing the ball to try and keep up with the Chiefs high-octane offense.
Alternatively, Ngakoue could reunite with the Baltimore Ravens. While he only played half a season with Baltimore, he played well in his limited action and should provide some much-needed pressure off the edge. The Jaguars, meanwhile, have a similar need and Ngakoue’s best seasons came in Jacksonville, so perhaps this is the most likely reunion.
Last, but certainly not least, is the New Orleans Saints. The team lost a lot of talent on their defensive line in free agency, and they can’t count on rookies Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey to offset all those losses. With a solid roster and one of the easiest schedules in football, New Orleans should be able to win double-digit games, and Yannick Ngakoue could be a key part of their playoff push.
Main Photo: Robert Scheer – USA Today Sports
