After Acquiring Yannick Ngakoue, Vikings’ Super Bowl Odds Listed at +2500
- The Jacksonville Jaguars dealt disgruntled DE Yannick Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday
- The Jags received a second-round and conditional fifth-round pick for Ngakoue
- Minnesota is listed at odds of +2500 to win the Super Bowl – read below to see if you should wager them
Yannick Ngakoue saw his wish granted on Sunday. The unhappy defensive end was traded by the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Minnesota Vikings and the price wasn’t all that steep.
Minnesota surrendered a second-round draft choice and a conditional fifth-round pick for the difference-making defender.
Across the leading sportsbooks, the Vikings are listed at an average betting line of +2933 in the Super Bowl odds.
Super Bowl 55 Odds
| Team | Odds at FanDuel |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | +650 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +650 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +900 |
| New Orleans Saints | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1500 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +1600 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +1900 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +2000 |
| New England Patriots | +2100 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +2300 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +2500 |
| Pitsburgh Steelers | +2500 |
Odds as of Aug. 30th
FanDuel currently pegs Minnesota at odds of +2500 to take the big game.
Why Ngakoue Deal Was Done
For several months, Ngakoue openly expressed his displeasure with the Jaguars organization. At one point during the spring, he even engaged in a Twitter spat with Tony Khan. He’s the son of Jaguars owner Shad Khan, as well as Jacksonville’s senior vice president of football administration and technology.
Last season, All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey chose a similar method of discourse to engineer his path out of Jacksonsville. Ramsey was ultimately dealt to the Los Angeles Rams.
On the backs of a defense that ranked 2nd in the NFL, the 2017 Jaguars made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game; narrowly losing to the Patriots 24-20.
Today, the trade of Yannick Ngakoue to the Vikings leaves just two players who started for the Jaguars in that game. pic.twitter.com/LG2WpDGvjn
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 30, 2020
Ngakoue is the ninth member of the Jaguars’ 2017 starting defense that led the club to the AFC Championship Game to depart either through trade, being cut, or retiring. Seven of those making an exodus were Pro Bowl selections.
The Jags already feel they have Ngakoue’s replacement on the roster in second-year DE Josh Allen. Jacksonville’s 2019 first-round draft choice had 44 tackles, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during his rookie year. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate.
An Impact Player
There’s no questioning the fact that, in Ngakoue, the Vikings are acquiring a disruptive defender and an elite pass rusher. He compiled 29.5 sacks through his first three NFL seasons.
Even though he was hampered last season by a hamstring injury, Ngakoue nonetheless gathered up eight sacks. He ranks second in Jaguars history with 37.5 sacks after just four seasons.
Yannick Ngakoue — already a top 25 EDGE in the NFL, and at 25 years old and with Andre Patterson as his new coach, has top ten potential (via @BrandonThornNFL):pic.twitter.com/Qezc5Y1Xnw
— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) August 30, 2020
His 14 forced fumbles between 2016-2019 rank fourth in the league behind only Chandler Jones (17), Khalil Mack (17) and TJ Watt (15).
Since 2016, the Jags have scored a dozen defensive touchdowns. Ngakoue was directly responsible for five of them.
He collected a pick-six, and a fumble return. He also forced three fumbles on sacks that other players scooped up and ran for TDs. A similar forced fumble led to a TD during the 2017 postseason.
Boost For Vikings
The Vikings went to four Super Bowls in the 1970s on the backs of a sturdy defense known as the Purple People Eaters. Ngakoue would’ve fit right in with that bunch.
He’ll immediately fill the void left in Minnesota’s pass rush left by the departure of Everson Griffen to the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, Ngakoue shows three more sacks on his NFL resume than the 34.5 compiled by Griffen.
Ngakoue's franchise tender is $17.8 million but I'd expect that number to drop somewhere in the 12-13 range with a restructure on the one-year deal for the DE. Minnesota will then have the ability to offer Ngakoue a long-term deal in 2021 since he didn't sign his tender by July15
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) August 30, 2020
Ngakoue will play on the right edge opposite Danielle Hunter, who has finished in the top 10 in the NFL in QB pressures in three of the last four years. NFL QBs are already tossing and turning, aware that they’ll never be able to sleep on the Vikings pass rush.
As a franchise tender, Nkagoue is slated to be paid $17.8 million, which would put the Vikings over the NFL salary cap. But it’s expected that he’ll restructure the money based on signing a long-term deal with Minny in 2021.
Does Getting Defensive Help?
Defense wins championships, so the old saying goes, but does it really? In recent seasons, teams that moved to add defensive studs haven’t lifted the Lombardi Trophy.
Just look at the Chicago Bears. They paid a fortune to Mack when he was acquired from the Raiders but the Bears haven’t won a playoff game with Mack in their lineup.
The Vikings now have an elite duo on all three levels of their defense:
▪️Pass rusher: Danielle Hunter and Yannick Ngakoue
▪️Linebacker: Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr
▪️Safety: Harrison Smith and Anthony HarrisA defense loaded with playmakers.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 30, 2020
The addition of Ngakoue won’t win the Super Bowl for the Vikes. But it’ll help solidify them as NFC North favorites at odds of +165.
That’s the best bet to make here.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
