Patriots Veteran Couldn’t Hide Excitement After Adding Talented Defender

FOXBORO, Mass. — Yannick Ngakoue’s production fell off in recent years, which is why the New England Patriots represent his fifth team in the last five seasons.

Defensive-minded head coach Jerod Mayo and veteran defenders like Davon Godchaux and Jonathan Jones, however, still believe they’ve added a piece.

Godchaux used the term “excited” five times when he spoke to NESN.com about Ngakoue’s arrival.

“He’s made his money getting sacks in the league so I’m excited to play with him,” Godchaux told NESN.com inside the Patriots locker room Wednesday.

Godchaux reflected on Ngakoue’s time with the Jacksonville Jaguars — “Sacksonville,” as Godchaux recalled. The 2016 third-round pick compiled 37.5 sacks in his first four seasons, including a Pro Bowl nod during his sophomore campaign.

The 29-year-old Ngakoue isn’t the same player he once was. He had 5.5 sacks in his last 18 games for the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens, who waived Ngakoue last week.

But Mayo still views Ngakoue as a three-down player and Godchaux is looking forward to seeing how he can help on early downs.

Jones, who’s taken on a leadership role on New England’s defense, is enthusiastic about adding another veteran to the youthful room. Ngakoue plans to bring leadership and energy while helping add to the culture.

“Help him come in, just learn the defense, learn what we do here and help us out,” Jones said. “Every time we bring in a guy that’s the first steps is just getting them acclimated and then letting them do what they do.”

New England represents a much different situation than where Ngakoue comes from in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson’s team looks like a legitimate title contender while the Patriots are jumpstarting a rebuild.

Ngakoue, though, isn’t putting much thought into it. He’s happy and excited to land with the Patriots, and Patriots players feel the same way.