The New York Giants are in dire need of upgrading their defense and one highly regarded free agent may be too pricey for Big Blue. According to Matt Verderame, the Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to keep talented defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in Duval. The hope remains that the Jaguars will be able to strike a deal with Ngakoue. If not, the franchise tag is very well in play.
What does a franchise tag mean for the Giants, Ngakoue?
The deadline for an NFL team to apply a franchise tag is 4:00 PM EST on March 10th. For Ngakoue, this could mean a $17.95 million deal for the 2020 season. If the Giants still wanted to offer the young defensive star, they would have to forfeit two first round picks. A price that is much more than New York will be likely willing to spend.
Of course, Jacksonville also has the ability to apply a transition tag to Yannick. This would be a cheaper option for Jacksonville ($15.32 million), but would allow other teams to negotiate with Ngakoue without needing to surrender a return. Jacksonville would still be allowed to match an offer made for Yannick, but the transition tag is so rarely used in the NFL.
It has been documented that Yannick Ngakoue seems to want out of Jacksonville, so a franchise tag could make for a long offseason. He may intentionally miss OTAs and minicamp if he does not agree. The Jaguars could then trade Ngakoue, getting draft assets in return.
Frank Clark, Jadeveon Clowney and Dee Ford were all traded after being tagged last season. The Kansas City Chiefs gave up a first and second round pick for Frank Clark. Likewise, San Francisco sent a second round pick to Kansas City for Dee Ford. Seattle seemingly got Jadeveon Clowney for a bargain. With Clowney being dealt after the July 15th deadline, the Texans received a third round pick, as Seattle had more leverage in negotiations.
The Giants can still land Ngakoue… Technically
So, it is still possible for the New York Giants to acquire Yannick Ngakoue, but the cost may be too rich. According to Spotrac, Ngakoue’s market value is somewhere between $17 and $18 million per year. However, the requirement of giving up two first round picks is incredibly steep. Much like trading a first, second or a combination of picks for Ngakoue, giving up valuable draft assets is an unattractive option for a team in the Giants’ position. Dave Gettleman already received criticism for giving up a third round pick for free agent to be Leonard Williams. It is unlikely he would be willing to do that again.