Yannick Ngakoue Salary: New Vikings DE Only Earned $4.6M With Jaguars

Yannick Ngakoue’s salary for 2020 is $12 million. The former Jacksonville Jaguar took a massive pay cut to join the Minnesota Vikings in 2020.

Ngakoue was looking to get a big contract to stay in Jacksonville in 2019, instead he found himself suiting up for the Vikings for a mere $12 million in 2020. According to Sports Illustrated, the defensive end left at least $6 million to join Minnesota as he was about to receive $17.7 million from his franchise tag eligibility. In the end, he did not sign his franchise tag nor reported for training. The move shocked some fans as it was rare for a star player to walk away from money that big but in the end, it was a business decision which could become a win-win situation for all parties involved.

Ngakoue had a strong 2018. He started all games and recorded 25 tackles with 9.5 sacks, per Forbes. For a star his caliber, teams would not think twice offering him a long-term deal. The 2017 NFL Pro Bowler only earned $4.6 million for his four years as a Jaguar. His rookie deal in 2016 included a $856,176 signing bonus. Ngakoue received the biggest paycheck of his career in 2019 and made $2 million, a report from Spotrac revealed.

By trading him, Jacksonville avoided getting nothing in return in 2021 should Ngajoue decide to walk away in free agency. The team got two draft picks in return. It may not be ideal but at least they got something rather than nothing. On the other hand, the Washington D.C. native could still get more money, depending on his play this season.

CBS Sports reported that if the pass rusher becomes a Pro Bowl this season and wins the Super Bowl with the Vikings, the 2022 fifth-round pick that was dealt to Jacksonville would become a third-round pick, along with the 2021 second-round pick. And the 25-year-old can still sign his franchise tag next year or find a more lucrative contract elsewhere if the Vikings shift their plans moving forward.

The Vikings seem to be the clear winner of the deal. They have secured a proven player for only a fraction of a cost while finding a possible long-term replacement for former defensive end Everson Griffen who signed for the Dallas Cowboys. Should the partnership between the Vikings and Ngakoue prove to be successful, a lucrative contract awaits the defensive end next season. If not, Minnesota can look elsewhere without losing much on its war chest.

Ngakoue will partner with star QB Kirk Cousins in Minnesota. He is in a better position with the Vikings to win the Super Bowl this year than the rebuilding Jaguars.