After almost negotiating for him several times in the past few years, the Raiders finally acquired Yannick Ngakoue. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Raiders hoped to sign the veteran pass rusher for a big deal during the free agency.
Origins: #Ravens pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue is close to an agreement with the #Raiders.
– Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2021
Ngakoue has been one of the league’s most productive pass brokers for the past four seasons, totaling 45.5 bags for three different teams. The best season of his career came in 2017, when he totaled 12 sacks and six forced fumbles with Jaguars.
He will now start on the defensive end for the Raiders with probably Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell competing for the other starting point. The team finally added a proven pass-rusher to match their young 2019 draft choices.
At just 25, Ngakoue is still at the height of his career and played his best football with Gus Bradley in Jacksonville. It goes without saying that this is a great move by Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden as they seek to correct their fast pass.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it is a two-year deal for Ngakoue worth up to $ 26 million. Although the exact terms of the deal are not yet known, this appears to be a rip off for a Pro Bowl-level edge rusher.