The Eagles hunt for a pass rusher this offseason either took a big blow on Monday or the cost just went up.
According to ESPN, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be placing their franchise tag on defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, a move they will make to either keep him in 2020 or to trade him.
Ngakoue quickly issued a response to the report, tweeting the following:
"The Jaguars are aware I no longer have interest in signing a long term contract in Jacksonville. Duval, I love you and gave you guys everything I got. I'm thankful for the journey and look forward to continuing my career elsewhere. -91"
Ngakoue likely would have commanded the top contract on the free agent market among pass rushers, given his age, consistent production and lack of injury injury. Ngakoue has totaled at least eight sacks in each of his four seasons with the Jaguars, and finished with 12.5 in 2017.
Ngakoue would, without question, be a major upgrade for the Eagles at defensive end and is exactly the kind of player the team would have spent big money on. Now, if the Jaguars do indeed place the franchise tag on him, any team interested in paying Ngakoue would also need to trade an asset to get him.
The Eagles passed on trading for an elite pass rusher under the franchise tag last offseason when they passed on Jadaevon Clowney, but a key difference now is they would still be able to negotiate a new contract with Ngakoue. When Clowney was moved the deadline to sign him to a long-term contract had passed.
Although the lack of a new CBA could complicate things, last season the deadline to sign a player under the franchise tag to a long-term deal was July 15th. Meaning if the Jaguars do tag Ngakoue, any team that would make a deal for him could sign him to their own long-term extension prior to July 15th.
Whether the Jaguars are open to trading Ngakoue remains to be seen, but if they do, it would be surprising if it cost less than a second-or-third round pick to acquire him.
For the Eagles, trading away a top asset like that and also paying Ngakoue a big-time deal would be a massive investment.
For a player like Ngakoue though, it might be worth it, and it is something the team should consider doing if given the chance.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
