Veteran edge-rusher hoping to find new team before training camp

At this point of the NFL offseason calendar, many veterans who are still unsigned will likely not have a deal in place until training camps open in July. In the case of Yannick Ngakoue, that could be different.

The journeyman edge-rusher indicated during an interview on SiriusXM Radio that he has received interest this offseason. Ngakoue waited until August to sign last offseason, when he inked a one-year, $10.5M Bears pact. Given the way his 2023 season ended, a more valuable pact should not be expected. The 29-year-old does, however, intend to find a new home before camp this time around.

“I feel like everything’s going to work out just perfectly,” Ngakoue said. “Like I said, everything happens for a reason… I’m just focused on myself, just focused on how can I get better, focusing on things that I could have done better last year.”

While the former second-rounder has not been able to find a long-term opportunity since his four-year run in Jacksonville, he managed to remain consistent as a pass-rusher up until 2023. Ngakoue had totaled at least eight sacks in each of his first seven years in the league, spanning time with the Jags, Vikings, Ravens, Raiders and Colts. Expectations were high for a similar campaign in Chicago last year, but he managed just four sacks and six tackles for loss.

Ngakoue suffered a season-ending ankle injury in December; that ailment has played a role in the fact he has yet to sign a new deal. The Maryland alum has been floated as a candidate to return to the Windy City in 2024, but he said he is not considering specific offers at this time. Still, having an agreement (one which will no doubt be of the short-term, low-cost nature) in place relatively soon would represent a different approach to last year.

“I just hope that I’m somewhere before training camp starts because everyone needs to go through a training camp in order to have the kind of season they want to have,” Ngakoue added. “The only thing that I’m worried about is being able to help an organization, help out the young guys and guys that are veterans as well to be able to get a Super Bowl ring and just bring great energy to that building wherever I’m at.”