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The Jacksonville Jaguars recently offered edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue a short-term deal averaging about $19 million per year, according to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The #Jaguars offered DE Yannick Ngakoue a short-term deal worth over $19 million per year with $50M-plus over the first two years before talks broke off yesterday, per league source. Ngakoue not reporting with his teammates today. If/when he does, it may be on his rookie deal.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 24, 2019
Ngakoue obviously declined the deal in hopes of landing a long-term deal with the team who drafted him. The base of that short-term deal that was offered, averaging $19 million per year would rank him fourth among defensive ends in the NFL.
The 24-year old pass rush obviously doesn’t want to just get the quick payday and is looking to secure his future in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars. If the Jaguars were willing to pay Ngakoue an average of $19 million per over the short term with $50 million paid out in the first two years, I can’t imagine transitioning to a similar long-term type of deal is that far away in the hopper.
My personal opinion on this news however is that it is a team leak to try to swing the public pressure from the team on to Ngakoue for turning down a “big” deal, when in reality that deal is a pretty bad one the way it’s been reported. There was not a definition of what “short-term” meant, but we can assume it is at most three years. There was also no reported guaranteed amount, despite that “$50 million in the first two years” point, which is likely “potential earnings” just like the Nick Foles deal is for $88 million but could be over $100 million if certain things happen.
As I mentioned previously, I expect a long term deal to be reached at some point, but as is with contract negotiations, it’s going to get ugly before it gets better.