There was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment that edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue was a member of the Minnesota Vikings. The former Pro Bowl defender played in six games for the purple and gold in 2020 before being traded.
In his ninth season in the NFL, Ngakoue has played for six different teams. That number will not change if the reports of the prolific pass rusher joining an AFC North team for the 2024 NFL season are acccurate.
Former Vikings defender reportedly heading back to AFC North team
NFL insider Adam Schefter recently shared a report on X that Yannick Ngakoue will be heading back to Baltimore to join the Ravens. He played nine games there in 2020 before joining the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
More pass-rush help on the way: Ravens are bringing back DE Yannick Ngakoue, who last played in Baltimore in 2020, per source. The 29-year-old Ngakoue has 69 career NFL sacks. pic.twitter.com/7j3YbfCqxy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2024
Ngakoue first arrived in Baltimore in 2020 after asking for a trade out of Minnesota. In his six games with the Vikings, he was able to be the team's season leader in sacks, bringing down opposing quarterbacks five times.
At 29 years old, the former Maryland standout has plenty of gas left in the tank. Last season was his first year in the NFL where he didn't notch at least eight sacks, finishing with four while a part of the Chicago Bears for 13 games before suffering a broken ankle and missing the rest of the season.
At 1-2, the Ravens know they need to do something to climb the ranks in their division and conference. The surprising Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-0. Through three games, Baltimore has 10 quarterback sacks, which is good for tenth in the league. Meanwhile, the Vikings are sitting on top of the league, having sacked opposing quarterbacks 16 times so far.
Ngakoue should be a solid piece for a Ravens team that could turn things around to be serious contenders this year. His pass rush ability can be a game-changer, especially when facing an opponent with a shaky offensive line.
Odds are that Yannick Ngakoue will notch his 70th sack as a member of the Ravens since he currently has 69 quarterback takedowns in his 123 games played since joining the league as a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
A Washington, D.C. native and University of Maryland product, Ngakoue will have a bit of a homecoming re-joining the Ravens. It is a great fit for both sides and as long as Ngakoue is fully healed and ready to go, the former Minnesota Vikings edge rusher should be a player to watch in Baltimore this season.