DOES YANNICK NGAKOUE TO THE JETS MAKE MORE SENSE NOW?

Yannick Ngakoue (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)

With the Jets now holding four first-round picks in the next two years, they could be a potential landing spot for Yannick Ngakoue. 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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The Jets recently pulled off a massive blockbuster trade, sending All-Pro safety Jamal Adams to the Seahawks in exchange for a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick, and safety Bradley McDougald. 

But Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News doesn't believe the Jets should stop there. He's now pushing for Jets' GM Joe Douglas to pull the trigger on a trade for disgruntled pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Mehta cleverly weaves together the argument from a Jet's perspective, and it makes sense in theory. The Jets now have four first-round picks in the next two years and a significant need for a game-changing edge rusher.

The potential problem?

In Mehta's trade scenario, the Jets are giving up a 2022 first-round pick and nothing else. While it' possible that Jaguars' GM Dave Caldwell would accept that trade, I find it unlikely. If the Jets were to offer one of their 2021 first-round picks, I think the Jaguars would start listening. Dave Caldwell isn't in a position, from a job security standpoint, to trade a premium asset for a pick that won't help his team win for another two-plus seasons.  

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But would the Jets, who are going through a bit of a roster rebuild themselves, be willing to part with a first-round pick in 2021 for a player who might decide to just walk after the season? Due to NFL rules, the Jets wouldn't be allowed to engage in contract negotiations with Ngakoue until after the conclusion of the 2020 season. That's a lot to ask of an organization. 

While the trade seemingly makes sense for both sides, there may be too big a gap between what the Jets would be willing to offer and what Dave Caldwell would feel is fair value. 

And Dave Caldwell is in no hurry. He'd be thrilled if Ngakoue changed course and agreed to play for the Jaguars again. But Caldwell won't appease Ngakoue for the sake of getting a headache off his hands. If Ngakoue won't play in Jacksonville, Caldwell will have the ability to keep using that franchise tag until a team offers up enough compensation. Of course, every game he misses, Ngakoue's value will decrease, making it harder for the game wrecking edge rusher to get what he ultimately wants: a new team and a new contract. 

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