Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue is one of the most coveted players on the trade market heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. But even as his situation in Jacksonville is deteriorating, the Jaguars have reportedly turned down a top-20 pick for the disgruntled pass rusher.
The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly offered the No. 19 pick to the Jaguars for Ngakoue, per Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell. Instead, Jacksonville is insisting on receiving the No. 12 overall selection from Las Vegas.
The decision to pass on a top-20 pick for Ngakoue is surprising. The team’s asking price for the star pass rusher was high a few weeks ago. However, many thought it would come down after Ngakoue publicly demanded a trade then got into a heated Twitter exchange with the team’s co-owner.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that the Jaguars have not found any traction in trade talks. Of course, Ngakoue’sdesire to land a sizable contract extension after being hit with the franchise tag further complicate discussions.
A trade is now viewed as unlikely during the 2020 NFL Draft, with time running out for two teams to agree on trade compensation and to agree on an extension with Ngakoue’s agent.
If the 25-year-old edge rusher is stuck in Jacksonville after the NFL Draft, tension between the Jaguars and their star will likely escalate even further.