The Miami Dolphins’ 2020 offseason will be geared towards adding critical pieces to their roster for a long-term rebuild. One of the players who is likely to have been on the team’s radar for the past several months is now going to be a little more difficult to acquire. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this morning that the Jacksonville Jaguars will be placing the franchise tag of pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue — who was going to be one of the more high demand free agents of 2020.

The interesting layer here is that Yannick Ngakoue made a public statement this afternoon that he is looking for a long-term contract — but doesn’t want to sign one to play in Jacksonville with the Jaguars and is looking forward to continuing his career elsewhere.

The Jaguars will be able to flex control with Ngakoue and ensure he’s under their control for 2020, but if he’s resided to playing for another team and securing a long-term contract the team could be forced to trade him.

Would the Dolphins be interested?

They should be. There’s few pass rushers over the course of the last four seasons who have provided a more consistent impact rushing the passer — but that means his price in a trade will be hefty. Acquiring Ngakoue in a tag and trade scenario now is likely to command a 1st-round pick and then some. Tack on a new long-term contract that will pay out close to (or in excess of) $20M per season and this is no small decision.

But if the Dolphins determine they’re not enamored with the pass rush options in the 2020 NFL Draft, Ngakoue may be a more desirable direction to go given how much cap space they have at their disposal. That’s a decision the team will have a few weeks to make before the calendar flips to April — the 2020 NFL Draft will be here before we know it.