Bills made massive mistake not trading for Yannick Ngakoue

The Buffalo Bills really should have pulled the trigger when they had the chance on a deal for Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

For the second time this season, Yannick Ngakoue is on the move.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Minnesota Vikings have traded the Pro Bowl defensive end to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional fifth-round pick. This just comes months after Minnesota traded a 2021 second-round pick and 2022 conditional fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In his brief stay as a member of the Vikings, Ngakoue tallied 12 total tackles, five tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles. The 25-year-old will fly to Baltimore to go through COVID testing and hopefully be cleared to suit up next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

When looking at the trade, multiple teams likely could have parted ways with either a second or third-round pick for a pass-rushing talent such as Ngakoue. However, six games into 2020 and the Buffalo Bills should be furious they never pulled the trigger.

The Bills (4-2) were once viewed as a front-runner to perhaps nab the former Maryland product’s services. After trading for Stefon Diggs, they seemed to be going all-in with Josh Allen and a stout defensive unit for 2020. Ultimately, Bills general manager Brandon Beane never came up with an offer that would satisfy the Jaguars.

It was a big mistake then, and an even bigger one if Beane could have tried to swap picks with Minnesota for Ngakoue’s production the remainder of the season.

Buffalo’s defense has been its Achilles’ heel all season. Currently, the team ranks near the bottom of total yards allowed, total yards per game, average rushing yards per outing and has only tallied 11 sacks.

The Bills certainly could have boosted their status of AFC contenders with Ngakoue’s assistance. Last week against the Kansas City, the defense allowed 245 rushing yards, including a 161-yard outing from rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Instead, they find themselves without reinforcements.