Ngakoue to Vikings

Wow indeed. I'm really surprised by this trade. Simply because of the financial questions that linger now. BUT....stoked to see Rick & Co. always trying to improve the roster.

As for Hunter, I just read on Twitter that the tweak is truly nothing serious, but guess we'll find out soon enough.

@"PurpleCrush" said: Wow indeed. I'm really surprised by this trade. Simply because of the financial questions that linger now. BUT....stoked to see Rick & Co. always trying to improve the roster.

As for Hunter, I just read on Twitter that the tweak is truly nothing serious, but guess we'll find out soon enough.

...read the same thing, Hunter is fine. They are just being very cautious with a very minor injury.

Wow about Ngakoue. He and Hunter on the ends?? Nightmare time for opposing QBs. Both just 25 years old.

Now imagine if Pierce was still playing this year. Add that to Ifeadi going back to his role of last year, and Johnson/Watts playing like they have been in camp. Add all that up and it would have been scary.

Nonetheless, this has improved the D considerably...and should be great for the young CB's. Now if they could only improve the O-Line interior.

Could you share the Twitter link pls? If Hunter is indeed okay, then I am officially pumped up for the season - a little bit ;-)

#Vikings DE Danielle Hunter hasn't practiced in two weeks for precautionary reasons, but isn't expected to miss extended time.

So it'll be Hunter on one side and Yannick Ngakoue on the other for Minnesota's D-line in 2020.

#Vikings DE Danielle Hunter hasn't practiced in two weeks for precautionary reasons, but isn't expected to miss extended time.

So it'll be Hunter on one side and Yannick Ngakoue on the other for Minnesota's D-line in 2020.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2020

Also read he's taking less money than the franchise tag: like $13 to $13.5 million.

Wow, great news to wake up to! Hunter and Ngakoue, both 25, should be bookends for years. 

Jags are certainly an early favorite for the Tank for Trevor Treasure.

And here I was just bemoaning the DL (especially without Pierce) in another thread earlier this week...Now they need that last piece @ 3t. But this is none-the-less an an awesome signing. 

25 year old with that production and upside? Doesnt happen often...Bears added Mack, GB got Z'Darius, this is almost right up there with those. 

Hope the guy knows what a Parka is...

Jaguars agree to trade DE Yannick Ngakoue to Vikings

The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to trade franchise defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2021 second- and a conditional 2022 fifth-round pick that could go as high a third-round pick, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Ngakoue still has to sign his franchise tender, but the trade is in now place and Ngakoue is expected to join the Vikings. Sources said the fifth-round pick becomes a fourth-round pick if Ngakoue goes to the Pro Bowl this season and a third-round pick if Ngakoue is a Pro Bowler and the Vikings win the Super Bowl. Ngakoue, 25, and the Jaguars will have to coordinate when he is going to sign his tag Sunday so he can be traded to the Vikings. Because Ngakoue did not sign the tender before the July 15 deadline, he must play this season under the tag, valued at $17.8 million, before he can sign a long-term deal. Sources said Ngakoue will restructure his one-year deal with the Vikings to create more cap space. The Vikings entered Sunday with approximately $12.9 million in cap space, according to Roster Management System. Ngakoue -- whom the Jaguars drafted in the third round in 2016 -- has been unhappy with the team since July 2019, when then-executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin abruptly broke off negotiations with Ngakoue's camp. The Jaguars reportedly offered Ngakoue a deal that would pay him $19 million annually, but the pass-rusher turned it down and he played the 2019 season -- after an 11-day training camp holdout -- for $2.025 million, a considerable bargain for a player who had racked up 29.5 sacks in his first three seasons. He suffered an early hamstring injury that limited his production but still finished with eight sacks in 2019 and ranks second in Jaguars history with 37.5 after only four seasons. In addition, his 14 forced fumbles are more than all but three players from 2016 to 2019: Chandler Jones (17), Khalil Mack (17) and T.J. Watt (15). Ngakoue also was directly responsible for five of the 12 defensive touchdowns the Jaguars have scored since 2016: a pick-six, a fumble return and three forced fumbles on sacks that other players recovered for TDs. Another forced fumble resulted in a touchdown in the 2017 playoffs. He had been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the Jaguars, especially on social media, and his desire to play elsewhere. He announced in March via Twitter that he told the team he wasn't going to sign a long-term deal and in April went on a Twitter tirade against Tony Khan, the son of owner Shad Khan and the team's senior vice president of football administration and technology. The Jaguars are loaded for the 2021 draft in which many expect Clemsonquarterback Trevor Lawrence to be the No. 1 pick. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Jaguars have a 24% chance to get the top pick, the highest percentage in the league. Jacksonville is now scheduled to have eight picks in the first five rounds -- two first-round picks, a second, a third, two fourths and two fifths -- with the chance that one of those fifths could go higher. ESPN's Michael DiRocco contributed to this report.

"Ngakoue also was directly responsible for five of the 12 defensive touchdowns the Jaguars have scored since 2016: a pick-six, a fumble return and three forced fumbles on sacks that other players recovered for TDs. Another forced fumble resulted in a touchdown in the 2017 playoffs."

What a playmaker to add to this Viking defense. 

This is interesting. In 2017 the Jaguars had the 2nd best defense in the NFL, 2nd only to the Vikings. This is a list of the players now gone from that defense. 

*Jalen Ramsey
*Yannick Ngakoue
*AJ Bouye
*Calais Campbell
*Dante Fowler
*Marcell Dareus
*Malik Jackson
*Aaron Colvin
*Tashaun Gibson
*Barry Church
*Telvin Smith

Jaguars have become a farm team for the rest of the No Fun League...

It's gotta be a team culture thing down there with the owner and maybe even Coughlin???

Maybe nobody likes Fish and Chips with warm Stout Ale?

This is an excellent value for a player of his caliber who is just entering his prime.  He might not be the best against the run, but he more than makes up for it with his pass rush ability.

This definitely fills the void that was created when Griffin opted out.  This DL could be scary for years to come...  the Vikings are going to have to find some money for this guy in future years if he plays as well as I think he will.

I would not be surprised considering the Viking's salary cap issues, that someone will be traded in the next few days to off-balance Ngakoue's salary...

Rodgers reaction...

@"ArizonaViking" said: I would not be surprised considering the Viking's salary cap issues, that someone will be traded in the next few days to off-balance Ngakoue's salary...

Word is they want to renegotiate Reiff's contract.

Ngakoue made it clear on several occasions this year that he no longer wanted to play in Jacksonville, even sparring with the owner's son on Twitter.
The 24-year-old Ngakoue didn't believe the front office showed him enough respect considering what he did since joining the organization as a third-round draft pick in 2016.
He is the second starter in the past year — arguably the team's best two defenders — to essentially force his way out of Jacksonville. Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey seemingly faked a back injury to get traded to the Los Angeles Rams last October.
Ngakoue has 37 1/2 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in four seasons. The speedy strip-sack specialist made the Pro Bowl in 2017 and was an alternate the past two seasons. He clearly outplayed his $3.84 million rookie contract. He made $2.025 million in 2019 — far less than other top playmakers at his position.
Ngakoue insisted the day after the season ended that he’s “not going to play for pennies.” He had been seeking around $22 million a year to remain in Jacksonville, but the Jaguars never considered him a complete or elite defensive end worthy of that much annually.
Jacksonville selected Ngakoue’s replacement, Josh Allen from Kentucky, with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft and added pass-rusher K'Lavon Chaisson this year. Allen had 44 tackles, 10 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles as a rookie and made the Pro Bowl as an alternate.

Wow that's awesome news.

Vikings lose their 2021 2nd rounder and a conditional 3-5 pick in the Ngakoue trade, but still have their 1st, two 3rds, three 4ths, two 5ths and two 6ths. 

So that conditional pick will be fairly painless. What's more, I wouldn't be surprised to see Rick figure out a way to use his extra picks to recoup a 2nd.

1. Vikings’ first round pick
2. Vikings’ second round pick (Ngakoue trade)
3. Vikings’ third round pick
4. Compensatory third round pick (Trae Waynes)
5. Vikings’ fourth round pick
6. Buffalo Bills’ fourth round pick (Stefon Diggs trade)
7. Chicago Bears’ fourth round pick (Draft day trade) (estimated Ngakoue trade)
8. Vikings’ fifth round pick
9. Baltimore Ravens’ fifth round pick (Draft day trade)
10. Vikings’ sixth round pick
11. Compensatory sixth round pick (Mackensie Alexander)
12. Vikings’ seventh round pick

This is the best Vikings news I've seen in.... well, a really long time.