The last few years have been a roller coaster ride for edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue. After playing the first four seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had the franchise tag placed on him. No long-term deal was worked out, as they ended up trading him to the Minnesota Vikings.
Yannick Ngakoue spent six games in Minnesota before he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. As a free agent in 2021, he signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. His stay in Sin City wasn’t very long, as he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts during the 2022 offseason.
Now a free agent once again, Yannick Ngakoue is patiently waiting for his next opportunity. It is a bit surprising in a market that was thin on pass rushers that he is still available. While he may not be the best edge-setter against the run, he can certainly get after the quarterback.
Yannick Ngakoue has played in the NFL for seven seasons and has recorded at least 8.0 sacks in each season. He has double-digit quarterback hits every year as well. Regardless of where he ends up, he has found his way into the opponent’s backfield to make some plays.
Where could he end up this offseason? Bill Barnwell of ESPN put together a piece listing the best fits for some of the top unsigned players. Yannick Ngakoue made the list, and Barnwell believes the best fit for him in free agency is the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ defensive line is transitioning this offseason. Frank Clark was released as a cap casualty, Carlos Dunlap is a free agent and Chris Jones is entering the final season of his contract. George Karlaftis will see his role expand in Year 2, but adding another veteran to the mix would make a lot of sense.
Insert Yannick Ngakoue into that role. Kansas City did with Charles Omenihu away from the San Francisco 49ers, but they also lost Khalen Saunders in free agency to the New Orleans Saints. Yannick Ngakoue would provide the team with a consistent pass rusher off the edge, something that, at times, has been an issue outside of Jones.
