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Yannick Ngakoue

Patriots Claim DE Yannick Ngakoue

November 9th, 2024 at 12:15pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

SATURDAY, 12:15pm: The Bengals were the only other team to make a claim on Ngakoue, per ESPN’s Field Yates.

FRIDAY, 3:55pm: 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.

Ravens Activate Keaton Mitchell For Season Debut

November 7th, 2024 at 3:16pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens have officially activated Keaton Mitchell from the Physically Unable to Perform list after his recovery from last season’s ACL tear.

The second-year running back electrified the league as an undrafted rookie, picking up first downs on 19 of his 47 carries for 396 yards and an average of 8.4 yards per carry. He ruptured his ACL in Week 15, ending his season and sidelining him into the 2024 regular season.

After dealing with major injuries to J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill in recent years, the Ravens took a conservative approach with Mitchell by ensuring that he would not take on a heavy load upon his return. Derrick Henry has served as Baltimore’s primary ballcarrier with Justice Hill taking snaps on passing downs, allowing Mitchell to slowly ramp up his workload as a change-of-pace back throughout the game.

If Mitchell is able to recapture his uncatchable speed from last season, the Ravens’ already-potent offense will become even more deadly. Lamar Jackson is a frontrunner for his third MVP, and Henry merits consideration of his own. Zay Flowers has at least 100 receiving yards in four of his last five games, bringing him to fifth in the NFL with 654 yards on the year. Adding Mitchell as a ballcarrier and pass-catcher out of the backfield may be too much for any defense to stop.

The Ravens waived edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue to make room for Mitchell on the 53-man roster ahead of their Thursday night matchup with the Bengals. Baltimore also used standard practice squad elevations on linebacker Kristian Welch and defensive tackle Josh Tupou, who spent his last six NFL seasons in Cincinnati.

Ravens Waive Yannick Ngakoue; Keaton Mitchell Could Return In Week 10

November 7th, 2024 at 12:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

Yannick Ngakoue returned to the Ravens in late September, and shortly thereafter he found himself on the team’s active roster. The veteran edge rusher’s time in the organization may be coming to an end, however.

Ngakoue is being waived, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. All players let go after the trade deadline are subject to waivers, putting them at risk of being claimed by an interested team. Should Ngakoue clear, though, Schefter notes the Ravens plan to retain him via a practice squad deal.

The 29-year-old had a quiet free agent market before electing to return to Baltimore early in the regular season. Between gameday elevations and time spent on the 53-man roster, Ngakoue totaled five appearances; over that span he recorded 1.5 sacks and five QB pressures. Having logged only a 25% snap share this season, the Maryland product’s limited role could help his chances of passing through unclaimed.

On the other hand, a number of teams were connected to the pursuit of an edge rush addition before this week’s trade deadline. The Cardinals (Baron Browning), Lions (Za’Darius Smith) and Steelers (Preston Smith) all made moves on that front. Other teams – such as the Falcons – have shown interest in that area, and with the Giants electing to retain Azeez Ojulari the waiver wire represents the last remaining avenue (aside from in-season free agency, of course) for teams to make roster additions.

The decision to waive Ngakoue hours before the start of Baltimore’s Thursday night matchup is an indication a corresponding roster move could be coming. That could very well be the activation of running back Keaton Mitchell; a Week 10 return had previously been pointed to by head coach John Harbaugh, and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo noted this morning an activation could be in play (video link). Indeed, the second-year back practiced in full this week, leading to the expectation he will debut tonight, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

After signing with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent, Mitchell did not make his NFL debut until Week 6 last season. During his brief period in the lineup, the East Carolina product flashed considerable potential with a yards per carry average of 8.4. An ACL tear ended his promising rookie campaign, however, and he has remained on the PUP list since roster cutdowns.

The Ravens opened Mitchell’s practice window just over two weeks ago, so he does not need to be activated in time for tonight’s matchup with the Bengals. If that does take place, though, the 22-year-old will look join a backfield which has enjoyed considerable success in 2024 with Derrick Henry and Justice Hill leading the way.

Ravens Expected To Explore Trade For Pass Rusher

October 20th, 2024 at 11:51am CST by Rory Parks

The Lions, who will be without star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson for the remainder of the season – unless they advance to the Super Bowl, perhaps – have been connected to some of the top pass rushers thought to be available in advance of this year’s trade deadline. That includes Haason Reddick – before he agreed to a reworked deal with the Jets this morning – and Za’Darius Smith. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the Ravens are another club that will be monitoring the pass rush market.

After leading the league with 60 sacks last season, Baltimore continues to perform at a high level in that regard in 2024, at least in terms of raw numbers. The club’s 19 sacks are currently the sixth-highest total in the NFL, but its overall pass defense has been a major liability. The Ravens are surrendering the second-most passing yards per game, and while a safety or cornerback addition would therefore seem to be a distinct possibility, bolstering the pass rushing corps could have a positive trickle-down effect on the secondary.

Smith profiles as a potential target for the Ravens, just as he is a possible fit for the Lions. Smith, of course, began his career with Baltimore, who made him a fourth-round pick in 2015. He parlayed a successful platform campaign in 2018 into a four-year, $66MM deal with the Packers, and he more than lived up to that contract over his first two years in Green Bay, racking up 26 sacks during that time and earning Pro Bowl honors in both seasons. However, he played in just one game in 2021 and became a cap casualty the following offseason.

In March 2022, the Ravens and Smith reportedly had an agreement to bring Smith back to Baltimore, but Smith backed out of the deal and signed with the Vikings about a week later. Although he earned his third Pro Bowl selection with Minnesota in 2022, he sought a release after that season, and he was eventually traded to the Browns, who also agreed to rework his contract. 

In 2023, his first year in Cleveland, Smith notched just 5.5 sacks, his lowest full-season total since 2017. However, the Browns chose to retain him via a two-year, $23.5MM contract this offseason, and since most of that deal’s value comes in the form of bonuses, his deal would be eminently palatable for an acquiring club. Whether the Ravens would be willing to revisit a reunion after being jilted a little over two years ago is an open question (the fact that Cleveland and Baltimore play in the same division could also complicate matters).

While any speculation connecting Reddick to Baltimore has been put to bed by virtue of Reddick’s decision to end his holdout and report to the Jets, another speculative fit for the Ravens would, like Smith, represent a reunion. Jadeveon Clowney, who enjoyed perhaps the finest year of his career as a member of the Ravens in 2024, signed a two-year, $20MM deal with the Panthers this offseason. With Carolina looking like an obvious seller, Clowney could theoretically be on the block.

Speaking of veteran pass rushers who had previous stints in Charm City, the Ravens recently signed Yannick Ngakoue to their active roster after adding him to the practice squad at the end of September. The well-traveled defender, who has played in two games for Baltimore this year and who picked up a sack in the team’s Week 6 win over Washington, technically could have been elevated from the taxi squad one more time before being added to the 53-man unit. However, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports, rival teams had begun to show interest in poaching Ngakoue off the p-squad, so Baltimore felt compelled to protect him.

Ravens Sign DE Yannick Ngakoue To Active Roster

October 14th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens have signed defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to their active roster, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, solidifying the veteran’s status in Baltimore after joining the practice squad at the end of September.

Ngakoue was elevated from the practice squad for the Ravens’ last two games and flashed the bend and burst that made him such an effective edge rusher earlier in his career. He recorded one sack of Jayden Daniels in Baltimore’s Week 6 win over the Commanders on Sunday, potentially putting him on other teams’ radars. Ngakoue still had one elevation remaining, but the Ravens moved quickly to add him to the active roster to prevent another squad from signing him, signaling that they see him as a part of their edge rotation for the rest of the season.

The Ravens already had a full 53-man roster as of Monday, so they will need to make a corresponding move on Tuesday to accommodate Ngakoue. There are no clear cut candidates on the roster, but both Malik Harrison and Broderick Washington missed practice last week with injuries. One could be headed to injured reserve, creating the space for Ngakoue on the roster.

The Ravens are hoping that Ngakoue’s second stint in Baltimore will be more successful than his nine-game stint in 2020 after being acquired at the trade deadline. He struggled to find a role in then-defensive coordinator Wink Martindale‘s defense and only recorded three sacks after starting the season with five in six games for the Vikings. While Martindale tended to design blitzes with pass rushers dropping into coverage, current DC Zach Orr has prioritized getting pressure with four pass rushers this season and giving less coverage responsibilities to his edge rushers. Ngakoue has been a pass-rusher on two-thirds of his snaps this season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Adding Ngakoue to their 53-man roster complicates the Ravens’ future roster plans, with cornerback Arthur Maulet designated for return from a preseason knee injury and running back Keaton Mitchell nearing his recovery from last year’s ACL tear. Barring additional injuries, the Ravens will have to make multiple cuts to add both players to their 53-man roster in the coming weeks.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/12/24

October 12th, 2024 at 8:38pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions, including practice squad callups for Week 6:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/24

October 5th, 2024 at 7:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s gameday elevations and other minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Mariota returned to practice on Wednesday, which was the earliest point at which he could be designated for return. As a result, it comes as little surprise he has been brought back onto Washington’s active roster. The 30-year-old is in his first season with the Commanders, and today’s move paves the way for him to handle backup duties moving forward.

Ngakoue remained on the free agent market into the start of the regular season. He was not connected to a Ravens reunion, but one took place last week. The journeyman sack artist had a brief spell with Baltimore in 2020, and he posted three sacks in 11 games. Ngakoue, 29, had one-and done campaigns in Vegas, Indianapolis and Chicago before taking a Ravens practice squad deal. He will make his debut tomorrow and aim to provide depth along the edge.

Ravens To Sign Yannick Ngakoue

September 23rd, 2024 at 4:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Yannick Ngakoue is set to reunite with one of his former teams. The veteran edge rusher has a deal in place to return to the Ravens, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Ngakoue was acquired via trade by the Ravens in 2020. That move ended the brief Vikings stint which came after his tenure in Jacksonville, and led to high expectations. The Maryland product played nine games with Baltimore, but he only recorded three sacks during that span. As a result, this move comes as something of a surprise as the team eyes pass rushing depth.

This will be a practice squad agreement, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic adds. Ngakoue will therefore have time to acclimate to Baltimore defense – coordinated by first-year DC Zach Orr – before making his way onto the active roster. Today’s news adds to the 29-year-old’s journeyman status, as his first Ravens stint was followed by one-year tenures with the Raiders, Colts and Bears.

Ngakoue remained productive in terms of pass rush success during his time in Vegas and Indianapolis, totaling 19.5 sacks. His Bears tenure did not go as planned, though, and he was limited to a 13 games and four sacks due to a broken ankle. Now healed, Ngakoue was frequently linked to a Bears reunion during the offseason, although Chicago added a veteran presence along the edge by trading for Darrell Taylor. That took the Bears out of the running for Ngakoue, who will look to deliver a better year in 2024 than he did during his first Baltimore tenure.

The Ravens (who have totaled nine sacks in three games) lost Jadeveon Clowney in the offseason, though they were able to retain fellow veteran Kyle Van Noy. The latter is joined by Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac, a young group of pass rushers. Not known for his run defense at any stop along the way, Ngakoue will be tasked with providing the Ravens with an experienced artist for the 2024 season. Succeeding in the role will help his free agent market next spring.

Bears Have Communicated With DE Yannick Ngakoue

August 18th, 2024 at 9:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout the offseason, Yannick Ngakoue‘s name has frequently come up with respect to the Chicago. The Bears have indeed kept the journeyman edge rusher on their radar.

The Bears “have been talking with” Ngakoue, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes (video link). That comes as little surprise given the team’s lack of proven commodities along the edge who are currently projected to log playing time opposite Montez Sweat. The midseason trade acquisition is attached to a four-year, $98MM pact but the Bears could stand to add a veteran to pair with him.

Ngakoue signed a one-year, $10.5MM deal with Chicago last offseason, and he was a full-time starter during his debut campaign in the Windy City. A broken ankle ended the 29-year-old’s season, though, and limited him to a career-low four sacks. It comes as little surprise Ngakoue (never known for his run defense) remains on the market, although he is healthy and has been floated as a potential Bears target.

General manager Ryan Poles expressed confidence in Chicago’s in-house options at the defensive end spot last month. Earlier this week, however, a push was made to acquire Matt Judon from the Patriots. Chicago offered New England a third-round pick, the same price the Falcons were prepared to pay. When given the choice of destinations, Judon elected to head to Atlanta. It will be interesting to see if the Bears continue to show interest in the veteran edge market with roster cuts looming.

Ngakoue recorded at least eight sacks in each of his first seven seasons in the NFL. The former Jaguar, Viking, Raven, Raider and Colt drew interest at the start of training camps. He took visits with both the Dolphins and Panthers last month, but neither workout produced a deal. With time running out in the build-up to the regular season, Ngakoue is one of several veterans seeking a contract ahead of Week 1. The Bears have more than $21MM in cap space, so another short-term investment would be feasible from an economic standpoint.

Panthers To Audition Yannick Ngakoue, Carl Lawson, Marquis Haynes, Kemoko Turay

July 25th, 2024 at 3:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

JULY 25: Kemoko Turay is joining Haynes at today’s workout, The Athletic’s Joe Person tweets. Failing to make the Falcons’ 53-man roster last year, Turay spent most of the season out of football. The former Colts second-rounder has not panned out, but he did total 5.5 sacks as a rotational cog in 2021. The Panthers now have Ngakoue and Lawson set to audition Friday.

JULY 24, 5:09pm: Marquis Haynes, a pass rusher who has been a Panther throughout his six-year career, will be part of Thursday’s workout group as well, Kaye adds. Added under Ron Rivera, Haynes has played for six HCs. Though, the Panthers have some continuity on defense, at least, with Ejiro Evero coming back for a second season as DC. After a five-sack 2022, Haynes missed much of last season due to a back injury.

10:09am: The Brian Burns trade led to a Panthers reboot on the edge. For now, the team is taking a veteran-heavy approach at the position. Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum and K’Lavon Chaisson are in place as Carolina’s most notable outside linebackers. The team is still looking for similar help here.

After not drafting an edge player, the Panthers placed Wonnum on their active/PUP list to start training camp. With Chaisson underwhelming in Jacksonville, plenty could be on Clowney’s shoulders. The former No. 1 overall pick might have some help soon, as the Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye reports Yannick Ngakoue‘s workout tour will stop through Charlotte. The Panthers are also preparing to audition Carl Lawson this week. Ngakoue’s workout will take place Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.

Previously eyeing a deal before training camp, Ngakoue worked out for the Dolphins this week. Emmanuel Ogbah‘s familiarity won out, and the nomadic edge rusher remains in search of a deal. With Wonnum rehabbing a torn quad suffered in Week 16 — an injury that was expected to cost him camp time — and Chaisson producing a grand total of five sacks in four Jaguars seasons, the Panthers appear to remain in need of help. Clowney has reached notable peaks throughout his career, but the injury-prone pass rusher has been unable to sustain success since leaving Houston in 2019.

This would open the door for Ngakoue, who is still just 29 despite going into his ninth NFL season. The former third-round pick’s run of sack production stalled in Chicago last year, as his seven-year streak of eight-plus-sack seasons — a string no active NFLer matched from 2016-22 — halted after a four-sack slate last season. Ngakoue suffered a broken ankle last December, though he did start 13 Bears games prior to that injury. Ngakoue’s 10 sacks alongside Maxx Crosby in 2021 helped the Raiders to the playoffs, and he led the 2022 Colts with 9.5. Viewed as a liability against the run, Ngakoue has cycled through six teams over the course of his career — including five during the 2020s.

Lawson, 29, has not landed in offseason rumors the way Ngakoue has. The recent Jets contributor did visit the Dolphins in April, however, and has been productive in the not-so-distant past. He totaled seven sacks and 24 QB hits with the Jets in 2022, helping Robert Saleh‘s defense rebound after a woeful 2021. Lawson’s training camp injury contributed to New York’s last-place rankings that season, but he found himself out of the Jets’ D-line rotation last year after accepting an offseason pay cut. Lawson, whom the Jets tried to trade, did not record a sack in 2023.

It would make sense for the Panthers to add some help here. Their $6MM in cap space sits 29th in the league, and Ngakoue likely will not be available for the veteran minimum. Despite having agreed to a three-year, $45MM Jets deal in 2021, Lawson would stand to come cheaper.

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