Yannick Ngakoue isn’t troubled by leaving nearly $6 million on the table when he agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings after being traded by Jacksonville Jaguars this week.
Jaguars agreed to trade franchise DE Yannick Ngakoue to Minnesota for a second- and conditional fifth-round pick that could go as high a third-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Ngakoue still has to sign his tender, but trade is in place and Ngakoue is expected to be a Viking.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2020
Instead, the defensive end views joining the Vikings as a “fresh start” and a “breath of fresh air.”
“Money was never my drive coming into this business,” Ngakoue said Friday. “It has never been my drive. I’ve always wanted to be a great-caliber guy, great-quality guy, on and off the field. I just needed a fresh start, and Minnesota was [the team] that gave me the opportunity to continue to live out my dream. I’m appreciative and excited.”
Jacksonville had placed the franchise tag, worth $17.778 million, on the 25-year-old edge rusher this offseason. Ngakoue refused to sign the tender and publicly vented about his desire to play for another team.
Minnesota became the destination for Ngakoue after the Vikings looked to add another pass-rusher late in training camp upon failing to re-sign Everson Griffen, who spent 10 seasons with the team before taking a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent.
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