The Patriots have claimed Yannick Ngakoue off waivers after the veteran pass-rusher was waived by the Ravens on Thursday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Ngakoue recorded 1.5 sacks in 87 defensive snaps across five games with the Ravens this season, his second stint in Baltimore after arriving as a trade deadline acquisition in 2020. The Ravens needed to make room on their 53-man roster for the activation of Keaton Mitchell from the Physically Unable to Perform list, forcing them to waive Ngakoue despite his rotational role in the pass rush since signing him to the practice squad in September.
Since Ngakoue was cut by the Ravens after the trade deadline, he was subject to waivers rather than becoming a free agent and choosing his next team. Now, he will join the 2-7 Patriots, his seventh different NFL team since 2019.
The Patriots traded Josh Uche to the Chiefs last week, leaving them thin at edge rusher. Ngakoue will only cost the Patriots $656,667 – the remaining portion of his veteran minimum salary – for the rest of the season.
New England’s pass rush has struggled this season with just 16 sacks, the fourth-fewest in the league. Ngakoue’s 1.5 sacks rank fourth on the team’s active roster, behind Keion White, Deatrich Wise, and Jaquelin Roy.
This guy has really fallen from grace. He was once a feared and highly touted pass rusher, now on his 7th team in 5 seasons, and had to be signed to the practice squad at the beginning of the season.
What a shame.
I was hoping he’d end up in Detroit but he’s probably not an impactful player anymore