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Wednesday brought bad reports, unfounded rumors, and Twitter shenanigans regarding a heavy trade from Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. Although it could still happen, it has not happened yet – and there are very important reasons why it is not easy to accomplish.
First and foremost, Ngakoue cannot be signed on a long term deal as / by trade. That opportunity came and went with the passing of July 15; anyone who trades for Ngakoue gets him under a one-year deal, with no chance of signing him up for a long-term deal until the regular season ends.
Second, and related to the first point, Ngakoue will have enormous charge when the regular season ends. With a $ 17.8 million franchise tender for 2020, Ngakoue’s 2021 franchise tag would spike to $ 21.36 million – in a year that could include a salary cap of up to $ 175 million. So whoever gives up value for Ngakoue in the trade and now pays him $ 17.8 million will pay him $ 21.36 million in 2021 or give him a long term deal with $ 21.36 million for 2021 as a starting point or see him run away.
These two factors will make it much harder for the Jaguars to gain value in trading. Last year, the Texans received only a third-round pick (and a few importers) for defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. To do so, Houston had to pay $ 7 million of its $ 15.97 million to get the deal.
That the Jaguars will have to pay part of Ngakoue’s compensation to get solid trade value, or they will have to take less trade value while the new team pays $ 17.8 million.
Alternatively, the Jaguars could withdraw the franchise tender, given that Ngakoue did not sign it. It is difficult to imagine that one Ngakoue will pay $ 17.8 million by 2020 when he hits the market three weeks before the start of the regular season. From Jacksonville’s perspective, they would not receive a compensatory draft pick in 2021 if / when he signs elsewhere. However, in this crazy, unusual season, there is real value in creating $ 17.8 million in cash and cap space.
There is one definitive option: Another team could still sign Ngakoue on an offer sheet, including a long-term contract. If the Jaguars do not match, they get two picks from the first round. Although theoretically possible, it is highly unlikely. (Also, the bidding strategy cannot be manipulated to set up a trade for slightly less than two first-round picks. When a bidding sheet is created, the Jaguars either pass and hold it or not and take two first-picks.)
However it seems, it will not be easy for the Jaguars to trade Ngakoue unless they are willing to kick in some of the compensation, or unless they are willing to take whatever they can get. of someone who could potentially have him on the roster for just one season.
A trade absent, Ngakoue must decide whether he wants more than $ 1 million a week in a Jaguar by 2020. Given that he made $ 2 million for the whole of 2019, it would be difficult to move away from even one game check.
