With NFL Draft over, the Atlanta Falcons should trade for Yannick Ngakoue

With the NFL Draft now over, the Atlanta Falcons should make one more move to help build a solid defensive line rotation.

The Atlanta Falcons have done a good job with reinforcing the pass rush this offseason, which finished 29th in sacks in the league last year. They brought in a solid ed Dante Fowler Jr and Marlon Davidson, someone that I gave a quick breakdown of right after the Falcons picked him in the 2nd round. However, the Falcons pass rush could be taken to another level with one trade: Yannick Ngakoue.

Yannick Ngakoue has had a great career so far with the Jaguars, notching 37.5 sacks and 85 QB hits in just 4 years since being brought into the league in 2016, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2017. However, Ngakoue has been very vocal in his desire to want to be traded, even sparking some Twitter beef with his own GM.

This wouldn’t be the first time a good Jaguars player has wanted out, with Jalen Ramsey and Calais Campbell already being traded and Leonard Fournette also voicing his displeasure with the team.

Here is my proposed trade to rescue Yannick Ngakoue from the depths of Jacksonville:

From the Falcons perspective, they are getting a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher on a one year deal to go on the other side of his former teammate Dante Fowler Jr., immediately upgrading that position from Takk McKinley. They also throw in 4th and 7th round picks to help compensate for the production difference, which should entice Jacksonville as they are in the midst of a rebuild.

Now don’t get me wrong, I would love to see a fully healthy Takk McKinley rush the passer in 2020. However, with Dan Quinn already revealing that the Falcons are not picking up McKinley’s 5th-year option, he just has one year left on his deal and becomes a prime trade candidate, especially if the Falcons choose to let him walk after the season.

From the Jaguars’ perspective, they are finally able to get rid of a disgruntled star and can move on from the Twitter drama. They receive another young pass rusher in Takk McKinley who has might not have had the best traditional stats, but has still effectively pressured the pocket when on the field.

He also has one year left like Ngakoue, giving them the ability to see what they have in McKinley and choose if they want to keep him in Jacksonville after 2020. They also receive draft compensation in 2021 with 4th and 7th round picks.

Overall, this would be a trade that I would definitely pull the trigger on if I was Thomas Dimitroff. Being able to upgrade from Takk McKinley to Yannick Ngakoue for just a 4th and 7th round pick is an opportunity that rarely comes around, and this would take the Atlanta Falcons to pass rush to another level in 2020.