Minnesota acquired Yannick Ngakoue from Jacksonville for a…
Minnesota acquired Yannick Ngakoue from Jacksonville for a 2021 second-round pick and conditional 2022 fifth, but the experiment lasted only six games. Ngakoue recorded five sacks before the Vikings traded him to Baltimore for a third and conditional fifth, recovering much of the cost. Jacksonville used the second-rounder on Walker Little, who developed into a starting tackle and earned an extension in 2024. The Jaguars won, though Minnesota's successful salvage keeps the loss from being severe.
Jacksonville Jaguars Received
- pick 2021 2nd round pick (45th overall, Walker Little)
- pick 2022 5th round pick (157th overall subsequently traded, Zyon McCollum)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Yannick Ngakoue
Trade Analysis
Minnesota acquired Yannick Ngakoue from Jacksonville in August 2020 for a 2021 second-round pick and a conditional 2022 fifth. The Vikings expected Ngakoue to pair with Danielle Hunter and strengthen a defense that had lost several veterans. Ngakoue even accepted a reduced one-year salary to facilitate his departure from Jacksonville.
The plan changed almost immediately. Hunter missed the season with a neck injury, Minnesota started 1-5 and Ngakoue's five sacks in six games were not enough to make the roster competitive. The Vikings therefore traded him again, sending him to Baltimore for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 fifth. That second move is essential to the hindsight grade because Minnesota recovered much of the original draft cost instead of simply losing Ngakoue after one season.
Jacksonville used the key return, pick No. 45 in 2021, on Stanford tackle Walker Little. Little developed gradually behind veteran tackles but became increasingly important. By December 2024 he had appeared in 51 games with 21 starts, including two postseason starts, and Jacksonville signed him to a contract extension. That gave the Jaguars a continuing offensive-line asset from a player who had made clear he wanted out.
The 2022 fifth-round selection ultimately landed at No. 157 and was moved again by Jacksonville, so the Jaguars' case rests primarily on Little rather than the player eventually selected at that slot.
The original Minnesota A-/Jacksonville C grading is reversed by hindsight. Jacksonville deserves an A- for converting a disgruntled veteran into a retained starting tackle. Minnesota deserves B- rather than a failing grade because it received five sacks and then recovered a third plus a fifth. The Jaguars still win on lasting value.