Longtime NFL veteran pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue has signed a new contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Ngakoue, a one-time Pro Bowl selection, spent the 2023 season with the Chicago Bears but has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, and Las Vegas Raiders.
More pass-rush help on the way: Ravens are bringing back DE Yannick Ngakoue, who last played in Baltimore in 2020, per source. The 29-year-old Ngakoue has 69 career NFL sacks. pic.twitter.com/7j3YbfCqxy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2024
REPORT: Yannick Ngakoue, Baltimore Ravens, Agree to Contract
Yannick Ngakoue is coming off of yet another solid season with a new team. Playing for his sixth organization in five years, the pass-rusher started 13 games for the Chicago Bears, recording four sacks, 22 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, and seven quarterback hits. Unfortunately, Ngakoue suffered a serious ankle injury in Week 14, placing him on the injured reserve and ending his season.
Yannick Ngakoue originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Maryland product immediately made a big impact on the defense. Appearing in all 16 games while making 15 starts, the rookie finished his first season in the league with eight sacks, 23 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, 14 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles, and one interception.
Ngakoue followed this up with the best season of his career in 2017. Starting and appearing in all 16 games, the second-year pro finished the season with 12 sacks, 30 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, 23 quarterback hits, and a league-leading six forced fumbles. Ngakoue was a key part of the beloved “Sackonville” defense that helped guide Jacksonville to the AFC Championship Game.
While Ngakoue was never able to replicate this level of success, he remained a reliable player over his final two seasons in Jacksonville. Appearing in 23 of a possible 24 games, the edge rusher recorded a combined 17.5 sacks, 69 tackles, 26 tackles-for-loss, and 48 quarterback hits.
After his four-year stint in Jacksonville, Yannick Ngakoue spent the next few seasons bouncing around the league without ever receiving anything more than a one-year contract. He played for four different teams from 2020 to 2022 but remained productive, recording at least eight sacks in each season.
Since signing his rookie contract, Yannick Ngakoue has recorded 69 sacks, 224 tackles, 71 tackles-for-loss, and 142 quarterback hits.
Main Photo: Brad Mills – USA Today Sports
