Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to visit Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers could be getting some big help on the defensive side of the football by adding Yannick Ngakoue. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the veteran free-agent defensive end is visiting with the Panthers on Wednesday night and Thursday. Ngakoue, who was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2017, played for the Chicago Bears last season and finished the year with four sacks in 13 games.

Ngakoue was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft after playing college football for the Maryland Terrapins. He was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2016 after registering 20 tackles, eight sacks, one interception and four forced fumbles. In his sophomore (and Pro Bowl) season, the Washington D.C. native notched 24 tackles, a career-high 12 sacks, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Ngakoue played for the Jaguars for two more seasons and tallied 17.5 sacks during that span.

In March 2020, Ngakoue went to social media to state that he wanted to be traded. The Jaguars placed the franchise tag on him before trading him to the Minnesota Vikings in August of said year. The 29-year-old played six games for the Vikings before being traded to the Baltimore Ravens in October. He played nine games for the Ravens and recorded three sacks in three starts.

Following the 2020 season, Ngakoue signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 17 games, the Maryland alum posted 17 tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. After the 2021 season, Ngakoue was traded to the Indianapolis Colts and led the team with 9.5 sacks in 2022.

Yannick Ngakoue ready to be a ‘top pass-rusher’ in 2024

In May of this year, Ngakoue told Sirius XM NFL Radio that he’s ready to get back to what he was in 2017. “Honestly, I haven’t really been thinking about an offer or details in specific at all,” he said of his free agency, per NFL.com. “The only thing I’ve been thinking about is taking that grass again and re-establishing myself on the field as one of the fiercest competitors in the game today. That’s the only thing on my mind. Everything else will come after that. I have to re-establish myself and remind people of why I’m one of the best [pass] rushers. That’s the only thing on my mind.” to be a top pass-rusher this upcoming season.”

Ngakoue added that he’s “been in conversation with teams. When the perfect opportunity presents itself, everyone should know.”