Buffalo Bills free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

Sure, the Bills could go the safe route and bring in a guy that knows Sean McDermott’s system in A.J. Klein to replace Lorenzo Alexander. Truthfully, that offseason move will work out fine. However, if the Bills want to go after one high-priced, marquee free agent this spring on the defensive side of the ball, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is that player.

Ngakoue is one of the most consistent pass rushers in the AFC. He has averaged a tick over nine sacks a season since he left the University of Maryland a year early to be a third-round pick by the Jaguars in 2016. He had his best season in 2017, as he had 12.0 sacks for the #Sacksonville defense that made it all the way to the AFC Championship. He too was a Pro Bowler that season.

Since Ngakoue isn’t a former first-round pick, he will hit unrestricted free agency this spring. Ngakoue may be a prime candidate for Jaguars general manager David Caldwell to use the franchise tag on, which will cost the Jaguars roughly $17.95 million. While Jacksonville may want to keep him, the Jaguars have the third-worst cap situation in the league at only $1.25 million.

With the Bills have over 71 times the available salary cap space, they can afford to pay a massive premium to pry Ngakoue away from North Florida and into Western New York. Jacksonville may rebound eventually, but it’s Ngakoue’s time to get paid. He can go to a winning situation in Buffalo, play for a great coaching staff, get paid handsomely and become a legend with the Bills.