In what has already been an unpredictable offseason, we have now witnessed a trade involving a big-time defensive star and cornerstone defensive pass-rusher in Yannick Ngakoue. Reports have surfaced that the Jaguars have traded Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2021 second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick. The conditional pick could become as high as a third-round pick, pending performances. This is the biggest offseason news to hit the IDP fantasy community since C.J. Mosley took the NFL’s COVID-19 opt-out offer and decided to forego the season.
This transaction is a devastating hit to the Jacksonville defense — one that should negatively affect most of the players on the Jags defense in a variety of ways. The lone and obvious exception is rookie first-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson.
Let’s dive into the aftermath of this exciting trade!
The Vikings’ Raid Jacksonville, Lands New Riches
The rich get richer with this trade, as the Vikings add a proven DE1 to their already star-studded defense. Ngakoue should now be set to play across from arguably the best defensive end in the league right now in Danielle Hunter. This raises both of their stocks. His arrival to the team also provides a boost to most of the other Viking defenders. Harrison Smith and company in the defensive backfield certainly approve of the deal.
In Ngakoue We Trust
In my rankings, Ngakoue rises from a low tier DE1, and at age 25, he jumps ahead of the likes of Maxx Crosby, Sam Hubbard, DeMarcus Lawrence, and former teammate Josh Allen. I like him as the best dynasty option after Chase Young is taken off the board, in the DE7-DE8 range.
Yannick recorded 29.5 sacks through his first three seasons in the league. While new bookend teammate Danielle Hunter posted 25.5 sacks in the same span. Those 29.5 sacks are good for 15th all-time to start a career, just a half-sack behind the likes of Khalil Mack and Julius Peppers on the list. Across their first four seasons in the league, Ngakoue’s 37.5 sacks and Hunter’s 40.0 sacks are good for the 2nd-most combined sacks by teammates in history, behind the former Colts’ duo of Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney.
Minimal Concerns
While the majority of Vikings defenders benefit from Ngakoue’s addition, it would be irresponsible of me to not mention my offseason favorite Ifeadi Odenigbo, and how he is affected. While some IDP owners who, like myself, were privy to Odenigbo this offseason begin to panic, I want to emphasize that not all hope for Ifeadi is lost. Remember that Odenigbo produced seven sacks with 23 combined tackles. As well as a few big plays in the form of one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and a TD as a situational pass rusher last season.
In the traditional Mike Zimmer scheme, which will now be run by new first-time co-defensive coordinators Andre Patterson and Adam Zimmer (Mike’s son), the defensive line is relied upon to make tackles. This accounts for the low tackle numbers of OLBs Anthony Barr, Eric Wilson, and Ben Gedeon the past few seasons. For comparison, starting Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport had fewer tackles than Odenigbo last season, while Davenport enjoyed a 70% defensive snap share as a starter in the games in which he did not leave with an injury. Additionally, most of Odenigbo’s sacks last season came lining up inside on nickel and sub-packages, with Hunter and former teammate Everson Griffen on the outside.
We can now expect more of the same this season. With, hopefully, Hunter and Ngakoue rushing from the end positions. Odenigbo should still be a serviceable low tier DE2 or high tier DE3 with upside moving forward.
It is important to note that there are slowly growing concerns about Danielle Hunter’s health. The star defensive end has missed 12 consecutive practices due to what Mike Zimmer referred to as a “little tweak.” If Minnesota does not wish to sign Ngakoue to a long-term deal, they could use him on his franchise tag this season as insurance for Hunter and eventually a dynamite 1-2 pass-rushing punch, pushing their chips all in for a Superbowl run in 2020 when Hunter returns to action. I will not speculate much further, as there are still more than two weeks until the Vikings play their first game.
Now Plundered, The Jaguars Look To Rebuild
It is now painfully obvious that with this trade, and the hot-off-the-press release of starting RB Leonard Fournette, the Jaguars are now in full rebuilding mode. No matter what the coaches and front office tell us, they are tanking this season and appear to be set on drafting one of the top tier QB prospects in the 2021 draft.
Blossoming young star defensive end Josh Allen, the entire Jags secondary, and much of the defense takes a hit to their stock, as the lost pass-rushing presence will make their jobs more difficult. Rookie first-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson does get a significant boost, as he stands in line to receive most of the pass-rushing snaps that Ngakoue vacates. It will not be long before the word is out on his stock rise. So, acquire him if you can at a discount today. Be advised that a rebuild could spell a new coach who comes with new schemes next season. A defensive scheme shift to a 3-4 defense would be a deterrent to both Allen and Chaisson’s stocks.
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