Yannick Ngakoue Vikings-Ravens trade details revealed
By Josh Hill
For the second time this season, Yannick Ngakoue is on the move and has been traded from the Vikings to the Ravens.
After starting the season 1-5, the Minnesota Vikings are starting to blow things up.
It’s been a hard pivot for the Vikings from where things looked like they might be at this point in the season a few months ago. Minnesota was gearing up for a potential Super Bowl run and seemingly fortified that by trading for Pro Bowler Yannick Ngakoue. The move was meant to replace the loss of Everson Griffin but also signaled that Mike Zimmer was trying to pack his defense full of top talent to wreck the NFC North and hopefully capitalize on a closing championship window.
The only thing that has been wrecked this season is the Vikings chances of being anything more than a disappointment and the capitalization is now on salvaging what the front office can with the attractive trade chips the team has.
According to Adam Schefter, the Vikings are moving defensive end Ngakoue to the Ravens in what could be the start of a fire sale.
Vikings and Ravens finalizing a trade to send DE Yannick Ngakoue to Baltimore for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional fifth-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2020
Vikings initially sent 2021 second-round pick and 2022 conditional fifth-round pick to Jags. Now get most back.
Baltimore’s defense has been one of the best in the NFL so far this season, and adding Ngakoue to that unit could end up playing out the way Minnesota hoped it would for them. The Ravens are on shaky ground after nearly losing to the Eagles last week, and need to reinforce its defense for inevitable matchups against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, as well as a battle with the Steelers in a tight AFC North race.