Raiders restructure DE Yannick Ngakoue's contract

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders restructure defensive end Yannick Ngakoue's contract

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/3/21

Yannick Ngakoue signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in March, and he's restructured the contract before playing his first game with the franchise.

According to ESPN's Field Yates, the Raiders have converted $12 million of the edge rusher's salary for the 2021 season to a signing bonus. They also added three void years to the end of the deal to spread out the remaining cap hit.

The move creates $8 million in cap space for Las Vegas.

Make it $8M* in cap savings for the Raiders with Yannick Ngakoue, whose cap charge for 2021 is for now just about $5M.

The Raiders not only added some space to soon officially sign LB KJ Wright, but also for in-season roster resources.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 3, 2021

Ngakoue spent the 2020 season with the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens, recording eight sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles, 23 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and 11 quarterback hits.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected the former Pro Bowl defensive end in the third round of the 2016 draft. He spent four years with the franchise before joining the Vikings.

The Raiders open the 2021 season against the Ravens on Sept. 13.

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