JAGUARS CAN PLACE FRANCHISE TAG ON YANNICK NGAKOUE STARTING THURSDAY 2/27

Yannick Ngakoue (Zach Bollinger/Icon Sportswire)

The Jaguars can officially place the franchise tag on their star pass rusher starting Thursday.

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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Thursday February 27, is the first day the Jaguars can place the franchise tag or transition tag on a player. The only player that would logically make sense for the Jaguars to consider placing the franchise tag on would be Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue is set to become a free agent and is a player the Jaguars can ill afford to lose.

The star pass rusher has racked up 37.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles during his four-year career. The former third-round pick has made just over $4.6 million during his professional career. Needless to say, he's looking to cash in this offseason.

The Jaguars, under the direction of the now-fired Tom Coughlin, negotiated with Ngakoue last season, but talks were cut short when the two sides realized how far apart they were.

There are a number of different tags the Jaguars could place on Ngakoue. The exclusive franchise tag, the non-exclusive franchise tag, and the transition tag are the tools the Jaguars have at their disposal, should they not come to an agreement with Ngakoue and his representation.

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The most common tag used by teams in a similar situation is the non-exclusive franchise tag. If the Jaguars were to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on Ngakoue, he would be allowed to negotiate with other teams. But the Jaguars would have the right to match any offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation. If Ngakoue were to play on the non-exclusive franchise tag in 2020, he'd make the average of the top five paid players at his position.

If the Jaguars are unable to sign Ngakoue to a long-term deal, which is by far their best option, the non-exclusive franchise tag would likely be their next move. Starting Thursday, the Jaguars can place the tag on their young pass rusher and have until March 12th at 4 pm to extend the franchise tag on Ngakoue.

If Ngakoue makes it clear that he doesn't want to play in Jacksonville, the Jaguars could agree to a sign and trade type of deal with another club. Last offseason, the Seahawks traded defensive end Frank Clark to the Chiefs for a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a swap of third-round picks. Clark then immediately agreed to a long term deal with the Chiefs. The Jaguars could look to work out a similar trade.

Should the Jaguars and Ngakoue come to terms on a long-term contract, it would likely be in the ball park of $20-22M per year, with upwards of $65M in total guarantees.

Stay tuned for more.

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