There were several Jacksonville Jaguars fans who had high hopes for the 2019 regular season, but just two weeks into it, things are unfortunately looking rather gloomy. In addition to the team starting the season 0-2, their franchise player, Jalen Ramsey, now wants out due to differences with the coaching staff. Some expect him to be traded by the time the week ends, while others believe the Jags may not budge. Regardless, we’ve decided to do a little research just in case.
Here are five teams who might be good suitors for the Jags to trade the All-Pro cornerback to:
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are one of the teams Ramsey has mentioned that he’d like to play for due to their pending move to Las Vegas, a place he’s high on. However, that’s not the reason why they are a suitor. It’s more so because they are the only team in the league who have two first-round picks, which are the No. 14 and No. 18 overall (from the Chicago Bears) picks at the moment.
While general manager Mike Mayock might be hesitant about bringing in flamboyant personalities into his locker room after getting the worst of the Antonio Brown trade, he’s also smart enough to know that there isn’t a player in the draft who is better than one arguably considered the league’s top cornerback. That said, they should at least have some kind of interest, especially when considering they have to deal with Patrick Mahomes and Philip Rivers twice a year.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are a suitor because of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who was the first head coach under current general manager Dave Caldwell and was the man who coached Ramsey as a rookie. It also would put Ramsey with his good friend from Florida State, Derwin James (currently on injured reserve), who he’s often said he wants to play with again.
The Chargers haven’t looked like the team most expected in the early stages of this season, as they barely beat the Indianapolis Colts and lost a game they shouldn’t have to a less talented Detroit Lions team. For those reasons, they might be desperate enough to call the Jags up and strike a deal.
San Francisco 49ers
Speaking of Bradley, his former linebackers coach from Jacksonville, Robert Saleh, is now the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, so it’s possible he’ll view Ramsey as a player of interest, too, after spending 2016 with the Jags. As a building team who could use some blue-chip talent to get where they want to be, Saleh may go to 49ers general manager John Lynch (a former defensive back himself) and put in a word for the All-Pro talent.
As it stands, the 49ers have Ahkello Witherspoon starting alongside veteran Richard Sherman. No matter how you slice it, neither is better than Ramsey. That in mind, the 49ers could pair Ramsey with a player he’s often been compared to in Sherman and let him maybe be the veteran’s successor down the road with Sherman being 31 years of age.
New England Patriots
I know, this is everyone’s worst fear, but it can’t be ruled out because the Jags’ front office has made some questionable decisions. Additionally, front office executive Tom Coughlin has a relationship with Bill Belichick, though they were once rivals, too.
While the Patriots are strong at cornerback, pairing Ramsey with All-Pro Stephon Gilmore would make this team scarier, as if they weren’t already a shoo-in for the Super Bowl. It could also be enticing for Ramsey’s party because it would give him a potential quick run during which he could play for a year or two before leaving to go to a place of his choice. We all know he wants to be the highest paid corner, and Belichick won’t allow that while in New England.
Still, of all the choices on this list, I’ll say this one feels like the least likely to happen. Coughlin may feel the Jags still have a chance, and helping the team that could be in the way of the Super Bowl is just not wise. Then again, it’s the Patriots we’re talking about, and they somehow keep getting better as a roster.
Philadelphia Eagles
It’s a well known fact the Eagles could use some help in their secondary, and Ramsey can help them with that more than anyone. That’s exactly why general manager Howie Roseman, who has made several trades in his career, will do his due diligence.
As pointed out by Eagles beat reporter Mike Kaye, Ramsey has some ties to Derek Barnett and Ronald Darby, so it’s a place he may feel ok with going to. Additionally, he’s got the type of attitude that would fit right in with the City of Brotherly Love.
Only issue with the Eagles is they don’t have the ability to keep him long-term. They recently made Carson Wentz one of the highest paid players in football and his cap hit will be high over the course of the next few years. They also have big cap hits for some key guys on defense, too. Still, if they feel another Super Bowl title is within reach, Ramsey may be worth the short-term gamble.
