Landing spots for the top 5 remaining NFL free agents in 2023
2. Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE
Given how valuable a strong pass rush is in today’s NFL, it’s kind of shocking that Yannick Ngakoue remains available at this point in the offseason.
Ngakoue is kind of notorious for being a one-trick pony off the edge, meaning he’s not known for his ability to defend the run, but that’s really not the point here. The point is that this guy has 135 QB hits and 65.0 sacks in 110 career games. He knows how to get after the quarterback, and there are at least a few people around the league out there who know him personally.
When Ngakoue was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, his defensive coordinator was Todd Wash, who is the current defensive line coach of the Carolina Panthers.
Pairing up Ngakoue with Brian Burns and the rest of the crew there in Ejiro Evero’s defense? I think that’s a great option.
The other coaching connection out there is with former Jaguars assistant Robert Saleh, currently with the Jets. Though the Jets just added Will McDonald IV in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, so perhaps that’s a pipe dream kind of landing spot.
The Chicago Bears have plenty of cap space left and certainly aren’t a finished product yet defensively with Matt Eberflus, and although Eberflus didn’t cross paths with Ngakoue while members of the Colts, I think there’s a chance you could see the Bears find good use for him.
The Saints are another team out there right now that just really needs to add bodies off the edge.
Landing spots:
- Carolina Panthers
- Chicago Bears
- New York Jets
- New Orleans Saints