The Baltimore Ravens are reportedly bringing back former Ravens pass rusher and Maryland product Yannick Ngakoue
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and confirmed by The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the Baltimore Ravens are bolstering their pass rush by adding outside linebacker Yannick Ngakoue to their practice squad.
Ravens are signing veteran OLB Yannick Ngakoue to their practice squad, per source. Gives him opportunity to get reacquainted with defense and ramp up.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) September 23, 2024
Ngakoue, 29, reunites with the Ravens after the team traded for him just one month shy of four years ago.
In his first stint with the Ravens, Ngakoue fell short of the lofty expectations set on him after the team gave the Minnesota Vikings a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional fifth-round pick. He played in nine games (started three), and totaled 3 sacks, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 11 total tackles. He did generate 26 pressures in those nine games, according to PFF.
After his single season in Baltimore, Ngakoue signed with the Las Vegas Raiders to a two-year, $26 million deal. In Week 1 of said season, Ngakoue helped lead the Raiders to a 33-27 win as he and defensive end Maxx Crosby overwhelmed an injured Ronnie Stanley and Alejandro Villanueva on the edges. Ngakoue finished with 10 sacks in 2021, but the team opted to send him to the Indianapolis Colts in March 2022 for cornerback Rock Ya-Sin.
With the Colts, Ngakoue tallied 29 tackles, 9.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in 15 games. After a solid season, Ngakoue joined the Chicago Bears in 2023 on a one-year, $10.5 million deal with $10 million guaranteed. However, his play declined, totaling four sacks in 13 games, missing the final four of the season.
The addition of Ngakoue is a curious one as the Ravens’ pass rush has done its job this season. In three games, the edge rushers have combined for 7.5 of the team’s nine sacks (Kyle Van Noy: 4, Odafe Oweh: 2.5, David Ojabo: 1). They also have been ramping rookie third-round pick Adisa Isaac up over the past few months as he recovers from lingering hamstring issues.
Bringing in Ngakoue to the practice squad is a solid move in a vacuum, as they add an experienced pass rusher to the unit, but it’s curious with their current roster where Ngakoue fits and if/how much he’ll see the field.