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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 14 March 2020
Jaguars place franchise tag on

disgruntled defender Ngakoue

By MARK LONG five salaries at the player's that he no longer wants a
AP Sports Writer position over the last five long-term deal from the
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — years. Ngakoue can ne- Jaguars.
The Jacksonville Jaguars gotiate with other teams. The 24-year-old Ngakoue
placed the franchise tag Jacksonville has the right to doesn't believe the front of-
on disgruntled defensive match any offer or receive fice has shown him enough
end Yannick Ngakoue on two first-round draft picks respect considering what
Friday, a move that guar- as compensation if he signs he has done since joining
antees him more than $19 elsewhere. the organization as a third-
In this Oct. 27, 2019, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive million next season. Ngakoue also could refuse round draft pick in 2016.
end Yannick Ngakoue (91) rushes New York Jets offensive It's the non-exclusive tag, to sign the tender and try Ngakoue's concerns
tackle Chuma Edoga during the first half of an NFL football a one-year tender offer to force a trade. He an- stemmed from former
game in Jacksonville, Fla.
Associated Press that equates to the top nounced earlier this month Jaguars personnel chief
Tom Coughlin's reign. He
hoped a change in lead-
ership would lead to a new
contract. But the Jaguars
have been slow to nego-
tiate, partly because they
are waiting for a new Col-
lective Bargaining Agree-
ment.
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 play-
makers 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 Jack-
sonville, but the Jaguars
don't seem to consider him
a complete or elite de-
fensive end worthy of that
much annually.
—Defensive end Dante
Fowler was traded to the
Los Angeles Rams for two
draft picks in October 2018.
—Defensive tackle Ma-
lik Jackson and safety
Tashaun Gipson were cut
to create cap space be-
fore free agency last year.
—Linebacker Telvin Smith
abruptly quit last May,
leaving $10 million on the
table, and eventually re-
tired to avoid getting fined.
—Disgruntled cornerback
Jalen Ramsey faked a
back injury early last sea-
son and forced a trade to
the Rams.
—Defensive tackle Marcell
Dareus is now a free agent
after Jacksonville declined
an option in his contract
that would have paid him
$19.5 million in 2020.q