It is no rumor that Jacksonville Jaguars’ star pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue has been seeking a trade since the spring. However, management has not granted his wish. Recent days, though, have suggested that they are open to trading him, but for the right price. The New York Giants are a team that could enter the sweepstakes but are still in the middle of a rebuild that would suggest otherwise.
Currently, on the roster, the Giants have Markus Golden, Kyler Fackrell, Oshane Ximines, and Lorenzo Carter. Fackrell and Golden are both on one-year deals, so trading for Ngakoue would allow them to extend his deal and build around him as their primary pass rusher. Ultimately, it would bury players like Ximines and Carter on the roster for the time being but will bring the Giants one step closer to their ultimate goal, competitiveness.
Last season with the Jags, Yannick played in 15 games, posting 41 combined tackles, 8.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits. He’s only missed one game in his entire career, suggesting he has a reliable player that can be counted on weekend and week out.
It is no surprise it plenty of teams are rumored to be active in his acquisition. Reports have stated that the Jaguars are looking for a second-round pick for his services, and the Giants giving up that type of draft capital is not advisable at this time. However, if they were willing to take a third and fifth-round pick for Ngakoue, that might be something worth considering.
The New York Giants have the money:
With the Giants holding on to about $10 million in cap space with Nate Solder opting out, it could be easier than expected to fit him into the salary cap.
The primary reason I wouldn’t enter the sweepstakes is that the Giants are still trying to bring the best out of their young pass rushers. Giving more reps to Ximines and Carter is essential. Burying them on the roster only hurts their ability to shine and reach their potential. Nonetheless, gaining a player of Ngakoue’s magnitude would benefit the team long-term and give them a consistent option at outside linebacker moving forward.