4 Colts players entering a make-or-break contract year
1. Yannick Ngakoue must be the player we traded for
Yannick Ngakoue had an explosive start to his career In Jacksonville, earning a Pro Bowl nod in his second year. However, after four years with the team, the Jaguars moved on from him and most of their roster.
Since playing in Florida, Yannick was traded twice in 2020, playing for Minnesota and Baltimore. In 2021, he signed with Las Vegas and finished the season as a team captain. In three years, Yannick played for four different teams, and the Colts mark his fifth team in four years.
This season isn’t just a make-or-break season for Yannick on the Colts, but for his career. If he does not come out and play at a high level like he was traded for, this could be the end of starting lineups and big contracts for the 26-year-old.
With all of that being said, Ngakoue joins a beefy defensive line that features DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Kwity Paye, with Dayo Odeyingbo rotating in at the edge position.
In Gus Bradley’s defense, this should put Yannick on an island that forces the offensive line to focus mostly on the other three, freeing him up for more 1-on-1 coverages. Look for him to make an explosive impact whether he gets sacks or not.
