Packers: Vikings Add Yannick Ngakoue Ahead of Week 1 Matchup
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers Week 1 Matchup against Minnesota just got a bit more challenging as the Vikings traded for pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue.
The Green Bay Packers already difficult Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings just got a bit more challenging. It was recently reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN that the Vikings have made a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to bring pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue to Minnesota.
Jaguars agreed to trade franchise DE Yannick Ngakoue to Minnesota for a second- and conditional fifth-round pick that could go as high a third-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Ngakoue still has to sign his tender, but trade is in place and Ngakoue is expected to be a Viking.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2020
As Schefter mentions, the Vikings will be sending a second-round pick as well as a conditional fifth-rounder that could become a third. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network also reports that Ngakoue will rework his current one-year $17.88 million franchise tender to complete the deal.
Last season, Ngakoue would record 51 pressures, eight sacks, and 11 quarterback hits. By Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) grading system, he was a top-20 pass-rusher in 2019, and by their pass rush productivity metric, Ngakoue ranked 12th among all edge-rushers who were on the field for at least 50 percent of their team’s defensive snaps in 2018, and he finished 7th in that same category in 2017.
Ngakoue will, of course, be joining Danielle Hunter, and the duo will form quite the one-two punch. Hunter is coming off a 2019 season where he logged 97 pressures, 14.5 sacks, and 13 quarterback hits. He would also finish with the fourth-best pass-rush productivity rate among all edge-rushers in 2019.
For the Green Bay Packers, this means that Week 1, their offensive line is going to be tested. And with question marks still surrounding the right tackle position – whether it’s Billy Turner or Rick Wagner starting there – it is a cause for concern.
Earlier this week, Aaron Rodgers hinted at the Packers utilizing more two tight end sets this season, and that certainly makes sense given the depth and versatility that they have at the position. However, against this Vikings’ pass-rush, an additional tight end – specifically Marcedes Lewis – would also provide some extra blocking help for Wagner or Turner.
In a recent article from Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, using Pro Football Focus’ playing-time breakdowns, he concludes that Ngakoue will likely spend most of the time up against David Bakhtiari, while Hunter will face the Packers’ right tackle.
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Ngakoue had been trying to force his way out of Jacksonville for some time now, and he finally got his wish as he joins an already loaded Vikings’ defense. Now twice a year, at least for the 2020 season, he will be someone that the Packers are going to have to contend with.