NFL franchise tag 2020: 10 players most likely to be tagged

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys throws a pass while being pressured by Shaun Dion Hamilton #51 of the Washington Redskins in the third quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – OCTOBER 20: Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Jacksonville Jaguars returns an interception for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. Yannick Ngakoue

There are certain types of positions that do well in free agency, and edge rusher is near the top of the list. Given the lack of pass-rushing options in the NFL, any halfway decent edge rusher will get paid.

Jaguars’ defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is better than decent, and in fact is an ascending star. Since entering the league in 2016, Ngakoue has recorded at least eight sacks in each of his first four seasons, including a career-high 12 in 2017.

The scary part here is that Ngakoue is only 24 years old, so he will be entering his prime in his next contract. That should make Ngakoue a free agent that is in demand, especially since the Jaguars have some cap issues.

Jacksonville is one of only two teams currently projected to be over the salary cap, so they will need to do some serious work to get underneath it and find room to improve. The franchise tag figure for a defensive end is just shy of $18 million, so that is a serious chunk of change for a cap-strapped team.

The Jaguars are still seriously considering finding a way to use the tag on Ngakoue, and that makes a ton of sense. After being forced to trade Jalen Ramsey this season, the last thing general manager Dave Caldwell wants to do is let another elite young talent walk out the door.

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