Giants Reconnect With Former Jaguars Edge Group, Working Out Yannick Ngakoue and Targeting Dawuane Smoot

The New York Giants held a workout on Monday that reunited several former Jacksonville Jaguars teammates, according to ’s Jordan Raanan and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The group included edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue and defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot, two players whose careers have overlapped in Jacksonville. The reported emphasis of the exercise was not simply a reunion, but a roster move to add pass-rush support, with the Giants reportedly leaning toward Smoot instead of signing Ngakoue.

Ngakoue and Smoot were not the only familiar name in the mix. Raanan and Wilson also reported that former Jaguars defensive end Julian Okwara worked out for New York alongside the two edges. For a Giants defensive front that has often searched for consistent pressure, assembling multiple experienced pass-rushers in one workout can be a streamlined way to evaluate fit, technique, and readiness without waiting for a long internal scheduling window.

As framed by the reports, New York’s interest extends to at least two different ways of stressing opposing offenses. Ngakoue has been viewed as a versatile edge option in recent years, while Smoot has been used as a defensive-line presence capable of contributing along the front. Even without additional details, a workout like this typically functions as a flexible audition, allowing the coaching staff to compare roles that could be tailored to specific down-and-distance needs.

The way the Giants reportedly sorted through the group is also noteworthy. Rather than signing the “more accomplished” of the two edge targets, the decision appears to have trended toward Smoot, per the reports. That kind of preference can reflect a number of football considerations, such as scheme compatibility, the specific pass-rush plan the coaching staff wants, or a perception that one player’s skill set matches the defensive identity being prioritized in the short term.

For the Jaguars, the news underscores how former teammates can resurface together elsewhere, especially when the league’s offseason and midseason roster churn increases. For the Giants, it highlights a defense that is willing to look beyond its immediate internal evaluations and use recognizable veteran traits as they attempt to stabilize performance as the season moves deeper into its schedule.

One important caveat is that the reports describe workouts and an anticipated signing, but they do not provide granular contract terms or role specifics in the information referenced here. Until the Giants make an official personnel update, the exact positioning of Smoot within New York’s defensive rotation, and whether Ngakoue’s workout leads to any additional interest, remain open questions.

What to watch next is straightforward: when New York finalizes any roster move, the distribution of reps among the new defensive front members will offer the clearest answer on how the coaching staff intends to use them. If Smoot becomes a Giants addition, his early usage in pass-rush downs, along with how quickly the staff integrates him into game plans, will be the key indicator of whether this workout turns into a long-term fix or a short-term solution. Meanwhile, the status of Ngakoue after the workout will help determine whether New York’s interest is limited to evaluation or extends into a broader pursuit of multiple edge options.