New York Jets free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 29: New York Jets Quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws the ball during the first half of the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills on December 29, 2019, at New Era Field in Orchard Park, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 15: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders is sacked by Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half at RingCentral Coliseum on December 15, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

2. DE Yannick Ngakoue

If you ask any Jets fan, they will tell you that the franchise has been searching for a true edge rusher for a long time. The Jets haven’t had a marquee pass rushing threat since trading John Abraham to the Atlanta Falcons for a first round pick, and that came back in 2005.

The organization has attempted to fill the hole through a series of free agent overpays (Calvin Pace), draft busts (Vernon Gholston, Jachai Polite, Quinton Coples), retreads (Aaron Maybin), and declining veterans (Jason Taylor), but nothing has ever stuck. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams did a good job this year generating pressure with a no-name unit featuring the likes of Tarell Basham and Kyle Phillips, but the Jets could make his life easier by landing a true edge rusher.

One of the best fits for Williams’ defense is Jaguars’ defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who has racked up 37.5 sacks over the first four years of his career. Ngakoue has never had less than eight sacks in a season, while the Jets have only had five players pick up that many in a season in the last decade.

While the Jaguars would love to retain Ngakoue, they find themselves in salary cap hell, finding themselves as one of just two teams projected to be over the cap entering the offseason. That means the Jaguars won’t be able to afford to keep Ngakoue, setting him free to the open market.

The Jets should pounce all over the chance to land Ngakoue to give Williams a true edge rushing threat for the first time in 15 years. With questions at the cornerback position, Ngakoue would bolster the pass rush to the point that it could mask those deficiencies.

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