Raiders draft trade rumors: Deal for Jaguars’ Yannick Ngakoue unlikely this weekend

The final countdown to the NFL draft tonight took a wild turn late Wednesday night when a report came out of nowhere, saying the Raiders were close to making a deal for Jacksonville Jaguars’ pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue.

The report from Charlie Campbell from WalterFootball.com stated that the Raiders were offering the No. 19 overall pick and the Jaguars were holding out for the No. 12 pick. It that suggested the Jaguars were asking too much for Ngakoue.

What a bomb.

However, as the sun began to rise on Draft Day, the expectations of the trade have cooled greatly.

Here is the NFL Network’s take on it:

ProFootballTalk.com doubled down, saying a trade is unlikely this weekend. PFT’s point wasn’t as much about trade compensation, but a new contract for Ngakoue. The report stated the Raiders just don’t have the cash to get a deal done. Last year, pass rusher Frank Clark received a five-year, $105.5 million contract with $63.5 million in guaranteed money after being traded from Seattle to Kansas City.

Ngakoue will likely ask for at least that. He is currently franchised and his tag number is more than $17 million, the Raiders currently have just over $8 million in salary-cap room. So, major restructures would be needed to fit him in along with the team’s draft class.

There is no way the Raiders would give up a premium pick for a player who can leave next year.

Are the talks dead? Probably not. Ngakoue has made it loud and clear he wants out. So, perhaps comprises will be made. Of course, a deal doesn’t have to be done today. It could happen later in the year. But with immediate draft compensation available to the Jaguars, now this is the ideal time.

If the Raiders want a veteran defensive end so badly, they could try to sign Jadeveon Clowney and keep their draft picks. But he is not the pass rusher Ngakoue is and he would still be pricey.

UPDATE: