Patriots Waive Veteran Pass Rusher Yannick Ngakoue

The nine-year NFL veteran is now free to join a playoff contender ahead of the offseason.

The New England Patriots have released defensive end Yannick Ngakoue after claiming him off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens in November.
Ngakoue, 29, played six games for the Patriots, recording nine tackles and two quarterback hits during his brief tenure.
A third-round draft pick in 2016, Ngakoue has played for seven teams in his career, amassing 70.5 sacks and 21 forced fumbles over 134 games.
The Patriots' decision allows Ngakoue to explore opportunities with playoff-bound teams before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
Improving their pass rush remains a key focus for the Patriots as they look to rebuild their defensive edge presence.