Vikings trade defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Baltimore Ravens
Brady Vernon
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The Yannick Ngakoue era in Minnesota only lasted six games. Thursday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Vikings traded the defensive end to the Baltimore Ravens.
Minnesota received Baltimore’s 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional fifth-round pick. Originally this offseason, the Vikings acquired Ngakoue from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2021 second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick.
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.
Vikings initially sent 2021 second-round pick and 2022 conditional fifth-round pick to Jags. Now get most back.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2020
Ngakoue totaled five sacks, two forced fumbles and 12 tackles in six appearances for Minnesota. Unfortunately, the blueprint to have Ngakoue and Danielle Hunter never came to fruition.
On paper; it looks like a net loss for the Vikings, but it could’ve been a lot worse. Most franchises wouldn’t send away a player it had just traded for months prior. However, Minnesota recognized that it was not competing for the playoffs this season, and the original trade with the Jaguars was a win-now move for the Vikings.
Minnesota’s draft capital certainly doesn’t look like the best it could’ve been, but the Vikings took advantage of an opportunity to cut their losses.