The New York Jets-Yannick Ngakoue story ends; Jags trade him to Vikings

The New York Jets-Yannick Ngakoue rumors can now officially end after the Jacksonville Jaguars shipped him to the Minnesota Vikings.
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JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates a play in the first half against the New England Patriots at TIAA Bank Field on September 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida.
(Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

The New York Jets-Yannick Ngakoue rumors can now officially end after the Jacksonville Jaguars shipped him to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Yannick Ngakoue rumor mill is now officially closed.

On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded the disgruntled defensive end to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2021 second-round pick and a conditional 2022 fifth-round selection, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The conditional fifth-rounder becomes a fourth-round pick if Ngakoue makes the 2020 Pro Bowl team, and it becomes a third if he’s named a Pro Bowler and Minnesota wins the Super Bowl.

Ngakoue, 25, has long been connected to the pass rushing-needy New York Jets since news of his unhappiness hit the public early in the offseason.

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Unquestionably outplaying his four-year rookie deal, the third-round product out of Maryland sought a long-term deal following the 2019 season. The Jags organization had something else in mind—a franchise tender.

The move did not sit well with Ngakoue, who publicly made it known on Twitter while simultaneously calling out owner Tony Khan.

https://twitter.com/YannickNgakoue/status/1252284901937811457

https://twitter.com/YannickNgakoue/status/1252286570977210373

Despite plenty of noise, the overall feeling always remained firm: the Jets were never incredibly interested.

Ngakoue made the AFC Pro Bowl team in 2017 after collecting 12 sacks, forcing six fumbles and making 30 combined tackles (10 for loss). The 6-foot-2, 246-pound edge has gathered 37.5 sacks over his first four years in the NFL (63 games, 62 games started).

While he’d immediately fit a huge need, Joe Douglas‘ interest never reached a level that warranted giving up compensation and re-signing the man to the long-term deal he’s currently seeking.

Jordan Jenkins remains the New York Jets’ top edge rusher with a plethora of individuals battling it out on the other side.

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