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Patriots Start Offseason Early by Cutting Former Pro Bowler in Week 18

The New England Patriots waived a veteran defender in Week 18 to get an early start on their offseason cuts.

By Jason Schandl

Dec 1, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Yannick Ngakoue (55) warms up before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Dec 1, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Yannick Ngakoue (55) warms up before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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Week 18 has major implications for the New England Patriots, but not for the reason that you like to see. Rather than seeing their squad competing for a playoff spot, fans will be hoping the team loses to get a shot at the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Buffalo Bills will be resting their starters, and there's conversation around whether Drake Maye will even suit up for New England.

In other words, it's already time for fans to fully turn their attention to the offseason. And the Patriots organization clearly feels the same way. With question marks around Jerod Mayo's job security (among others), the team has already cut ties with one veteran early. And this cut was actually a very considerate one from the Pats.

Patriots Do Yannick Ngakoue Big Favor With Week 18 Release

The New England Patriots released former Pro Bowl edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue on Tuesday. He is now available for any team to place a waiver claim on for Week 18, and if nobody does then he will be a free agent, able to sign with whoever he chooses.

Why cut him with one game left? To do him a favor. He wasn't going to stay in New England next season anyway, so this gives him a chance to find a new home with a playoff team to chase a Super Bowl ring.

Ngakoue hasn't done much in New England, with no sacks in his five games since joining the team, but he could still catch on as a situational player with a contender. And when you consider things like the Detroit Lions' injury issues, it's hard to imagine that teams won't be interested.

There's one interesting thing to note, however, that might give contenders some pause. Ngakoue has actually been better as a run defender than a pass-rusher this year, per PFF. His 46.7 pass rush grade ranks a brutal 198th among 205 qualifying edge defenders. He hasn't ranked top-100 at the position since 2021.

So the Patriots have done their part to help the veteran chase a Super Bowl ring, but now the ball is in other teams' court. If they believe in the potential he showed early in his career and think he can offer some punch in a straightforward depth role off the edge, he should be able to find a contract. But if teams are turned off by his recent struggles, this might just be a situation where Ngakoue gets an early vacation.

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