JACKSONVILLE – The Yannick Ngakoue news is there's little new.
Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell said so Thursday, a day after a report that a trade involving the veteran defensive end was imminent. Caldwell called the report "erroneous" and "unsubstantiated," adding that it caught him "off guard."
"I don't know where it came from or who it came from, but if he's being traded, I wish somebody would let me know," Caldwell said.
Caldwell, during a 2020 Training Camp interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio Thursday, said the Jaguars have talked to teams about trading Ngakoue.
The team in March placed the franchise tag on Ngakoue, who via social media has expressed a desire to be traded. If he is not traded, Ngakoue under NFL rules must either play for the Jaguars on a one-year deal worth about $17.8 million – or not play.
Ngakoue currently is not with the team. Because he has not signed the franchise tag and is therefore not under contract, his absence is not a violation of NFL rules.
"Obviously, we're working with the player and his new agents and trying to come up with a good resolution for everybody," Caldwell said. "Right now, we're in a holding pattern. He's in a holding pattern. But we're having contact with him and his agent.
"We've talked with some teams, but there's nothing immediate that's going to happen here."
Also Thursday:
*Caldwell told SiriusXM NFL radio hosts Alex Marvez and Charles Davis that when it comes to the Jaguars' roster and the team's chances this season, "This is not a slow rebuild." Caldwell made the final decision on personnel from 2013-2016, with then-Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin making final decisions from 2017-2019. Caldwell and Head Coach Doug Marrone now report directly to Owner Shad Khan, and Caldwell on Thursday said the Jaguars could improve quickly after winning 11 games over the last two seasons. "This [season] is a thing where we felt we could get some pieces where we needed some players and have a really good draft class." Caldwell also said the offseason addition of veteran tight end Tyler Eifert and veteran middle linebacker Joe Schobert will strengthen positions where the team through '17 had Marcedes Lewis and Paul Posluszny, respectively. "We feel like with a young quarterback (Gardner Minshew II] who went .500 last year going into his second year … we feel like this can take off relatively quickly."
*Caldwell also said he likes the organizational vibe compared to past seasons. "We feel good about where we're at," Caldwell said. "Coach Marrone and I are in a good spot with ownership and our team. We like our guys and even our guys are saying how much different it is for them … the mojo in the building. A lot of guys who have come from other teams are saying, 'I'm really enjoying football again and it has been fun.' We haven't played a game, but right now Coach Marrone has a really good rapport with the players and he's treating them right. I think we're in a good spot."
