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Who Will Sign Yannick Ngakoue? Landing Spots for the Edge Rusher

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Yannick Ngakoue was on the path to being one of the top edge rushers in the NFL after some incredible performances with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he’s been up and down since then, having played for four teams in three years. Now, hitting free agency, he’s seeing his options dwindle as teams have already signed away the edge rushers they plan to roll with heading into the season.

Who Will Sign Yannick Ngakoue?

The upside for Ngakoue is pretty enormous, and teams needing an edge rusher would be wise to investigate the veteran despite some bumps in the road — after all, he ranks ninth in sacks since joining the NFL in 2016.

Given that the edge defender draft class has a number of question marks — albeit with a lot of talent — there’s a reason that Ngakoue should be able to drum up a market. On the other hand, a number of teams that need an edge rusher have already employed Ngakoue, and he’s had mixed feelings about his time with them.

He told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that he enjoyed playing in Minnesota but felt he “wasn’t utilized the right way,” adding that “Pass rushers need rhythm. You have to have multiple plays to set up moves, and I felt like I didn’t have that there.”

The Chicago Bears Could Keep Spending To Immediately Return To Relevance

The Bears should secure a pass rusher in the draft, but they need more than one. Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson are not yet slated to take on a full-time role, and adding Ngakoue to a roster that has a first- or second-round pick pass rusher would be smart.

The Bears have invested an extraordinary number of resources into the team this year on both sides of the ball but still have a ways to go before they can be comfortable with their competitiveness and have nearly $40 million in remaining cap space regardless. Rounding out other elements of the roster will be a big part of their ability to continue competing in the NFC North.

MORE: Best EDGEs in the NFL 

When head coach Matt Eberflus was asked to describe his ideal edge rusher at the NFL Combine, he seemingly described Ngakoue to a tee. “I would just say the ability to turn the corner,” he said of his primary edge rusher traits. “When guys start to rush, and they get their approach, when they get to the move area, the ones that can’t get there, they start working away from the quarterback.”

“The ones that do,” Eberflus said, “they have everything pointed — their hips, their toes, their knees — everything toward the quarterback. And they have the ability to work their move around the edge. And then when they get past the quarterback, they have strength to be able to work back inside.”

Ngakoue Could Unlock Myles Garrett for the Cleveland Browns

The Browns have moved on from Jadeveon Clowney and need someone opposite Myles Garrett in order to set their pass rush up for success. After signing Dalvin Tomlinson in the interior, they’ve already committed to building up their defensive line but need to do more to make that unit completely effective.

With Jim Schwartz as their defensive coordinator, they should be able to effectively use the wide techniques that Ngakoue has become comfortable with.

Indianapolis Colts Could Re-Sign Ngakoue and Re-Establish Their Defense

Gus Bradley has employed Ngakoue in his defenses at multiple stops — Jacksonville, Las Vegas, and Indianapolis. Bringing Ngakoue back to Indy after a muted free agency makes a fair degree of sense. His 9.5 sacks last year for the Colts didn’t set the world on fire but was fairly helpful for a defense otherwise lacking pass rush.

The Colts still have reason to be excited about Kwity Paye, but having a strong stable of pass rushers — with or without a rookie addition — will be critical to get the defense back to relevance. Even as a rebuilding team, signing Ngakoue would make a lot of sense.

The Denver Broncos Have a Lot of Pass-Rush Ground To Make Up

The Broncos have the least amount of cap room on this list but still have about $8 million to address a position they made substantially weaker when they traded away Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins. Adding Zach Allen to help with the pass rush shouldn’t stop them from adding someone like Ngakoue because they play functionally different positions.

MORE: Highest-Paid EDGEs in the NFL  

Allen and Ngakoue could even line up on the same side of the ball and, if done properly, could combine like Aldon Smith and Justin Smith did for San Francisco a few years ago.

If the Los Angeles Rams Want To Win, Why Not Ngakoue?

The Rams’ EDGE room consists of Michael Hoecht, Keir Thomas, Zach VanValkenburg, and Daniel Hardy. It’s not a stacked room, and it could do with some bargains if the Rams are really committed to competing this year.

If not, they would be smart to pass on Ngakoue and move on, but they have indicated that they expect to win this year. He would be an instant upgrade and should be comfortable with what a defense like this would ask him to do.



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Taylor Swift Is Shown Chugging a Beer on the Jumbotron at Super Bowl 58

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Global superstar Taylor Swift made it to the big game to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. In the second quarter, it was evident that she was having a good time at the Super Bowl after taking a 12-hour flight from Tokyo the night prior.

Taylor Swift Seen Chugging Beer at Super Bowl

Swift’s attendance has been highly anticipated, as many fans questioned whether she would be able to make it to the big game since she had been in Japan until Saturday for her Eras Tour.

Sure enough, she made it to the Super Bowl and was seen making a grand entrance alongside Blake Lively and Ice Spice.

Swift made it back to the States with plenty of time to make it to Allegiant Stadium to support Kelce. After a leg of her Eras Tour, where she performed several nights in Japan, the singer appeared to let loose.

In a box full of friends, Swift was shown chugging a beer with Ashley Avignone. She was shown on the jumbotron and slammed her cup down after she finished her beer.

There was a mix of cheers and boos as Swift was shown on the big screen, and a long pass to Mecole Hardman was the only highlight of the first half for Swift and her friends. The 49ers led the Chiefs, 10-0, late in the second quarter.

On social media, Swift garnered plenty of support from NFL fans.

If you’re hating on her you can kick rocks man she’s the best,” one user posted on X

“The one thing I learned this season is that she is actually fun,” another said. 

“Booing Taylor Swift chugging a beer is so soft. She’s just one of us now and I respect it ,” another posted. 

At the time of the beer chugging, Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, has had one catch for a single yard. It came on the first possession, which ended up being a three-and-out. The Kansas City Chiefs hadn’t done much otherwise.

They did have a deep pass play to Hardman, which put them in the red zone, but Isiah Pacheco fumbled on the very next play — one that Kelce was surprisingly on the sideline for.

Swift and Kelce have garnered much media attention as their romance has taken off throughout this NFL season.

Swift was able to support her boyfriend at many of his games throughout the final stretch of the season, as her Eras Tour was on a break. But starting on Feb. 7, she went back on the road.

MORE: NFL World Reacts to Unbelievable Super Bowl Trick Play

Despite performing in Tokyo the night before the Super Bowl, she was able to make it in time to support her boyfriend due to the time difference and is having a good time doing so.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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What Happened to the 49ers Linebacker?

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The San Francisco 49ers sustained a massive blow during the second quarter of Super Bowl 58, as linebacker Dre Greenlaw left the game on a medical cart.

CBS Sports confirmed that the veteran Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear, ruling him out for the rest of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What Happened to Dre Greenlaw?

The outside linebacker, who had already been battling past injuries to his hamstrings and calves, left with what appeared to be a leg injury.

And somehow, his left leg looked like it buckled as he tried to trot onto the field with the Niners’ defense.

Greenlaw clutched his left leg in agony before being helped off the field.

CBS Sports sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that the outside linebacker left with what was ruled as a lower leg injury. He was later determined to sustain an Achilles injury.

Greenlaw was declared out for the rest of the game.

Greenlaw Carted Off in Passenger Seat

Even more noticeable was where Greenlaw sat on the cart.

He ended up leaving not in the back of the medical vehicle but ended up riding shotgun with his leg injury.

One would think that with an injury like an Achilles ailment, medical officials would try to make the player as comfortable as possible before they leave. It wasn’t the case here.

MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

Regardless, Greenlaw was replaced by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for the rest of the first half. Greenlaw became the most significant injury of the game.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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NFL World Reacts to Epic Super Bowl Intro From CBS

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Super Bowl 58 is here and it’s going to be exciting. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are facing off in the final game of 2023.

CBS is broadcasting the game and the opening was nothing short of amazing. How is the NFL world reacting to the electric Super Bowl-opening video?

Epic CBS Super Bowl Intro Garners Reaction From NFL World

The video, which spanned four minutes and 19 seconds, featured players from both teams talking about the big game and what it means to them. It also featured their families talking about their journeys to this point.

“Amazing intro! Reminds me of my dad! Bravo on the intro!,” one NFL fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter)

Additionally, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played in the background, giving it a near-movie feel. “This was incredible.,” another person said on X. “And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain,” CBS Sports said.

The 49ers finished the regular season as the top seed in the NFC with a 12-5 record. After their first-round bye, they defeated both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to earn their trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Both of their victories came in comeback fashion, including an NFC Championship-record 17-point comeback.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, had a more uphill battle. Entering the playoffs as the AFC’s third seed, they finished the regular season with an 11-6 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens to punch their ticket.

Super Bowl 58 is a re-match of Super Bowl 54 when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-24. The win was the first in Patrick Mahomes career, as he also won Super Bowl MVP. Four years later, the Chiefs have made three more and won another. For the 49ers, this is their first trip back to the big game since.

The game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET with the 49ers receiving the opening kick. In addition to being broadcast on CBS, the game is also being streamed on Paramount+.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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