The Baltimore Ravens have traded for Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue.
Baltimore will be sending a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2022 to the Vikings in exchange for the 2017 Pro Bowler, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
According to Schefter, the Ravens had tried to trade for Ngakoue in recent months, but were unable to make it happen until now. Ngakoue grew up in Maryland and wanted to be with the Ravens all along.
This offseason, the Vikings sent a second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for Ngakoue.
The Pro Bowl pass rusher will now be joining Calais Campbell on the defense line after the two were teammates back in Jacksonville. They were both a part of the Jaguars’ run to the AFC Championship Game back in 2017. Campbell currently leads the Ravens with four sacks.
Baltimore currently has the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL among points allowed per game (17.3). The Ravens have also been looking for more pass-rushing help even though they rank tied for 2nd in the NFL in sacks.
The Ravens placed the franchise tag on edge-rusher Matthew Judon in the offseason after he totaled up 9.5 sacks in 2019.
At 5-1, Baltimore is not finished building this team.
Ravens GM Eric Decosta said, “We are excited to add Yannick Ngakoue to our football team.” Decosta continued, “we are not finished building this team, as we continue to chase our ultimate goals.”
Through six games with Minnesota, Ngakoue totaled five sacks and five tackles for loss.
While the Ravens continue to gear up for a Super Bowl run, they also added wide receiver Dez Bryant to their practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network.
More from The Woody Paige Sports Network:
- Woody Paige: That time I played blackjack with Michael Jordan in Monte Carlo
- ‘Most losses in 2020’ prop bet offers NFL bettors huge value
- Woody Paige: Underdog Tim Patrick makes statement with breakout performance
- Woody Paige: Have the Broncos finally learned how to close out games?
- Ignore the Polls – ranking college football teams this season is pointless
- Woody Paige: Broncos need Drew Lock to prove he’s THE guy
- Tua Tagovailoa named Miami Dolphins starting quarterback
