New York Jets should risk it to get the biscuit for star CB Jalen Ramsey

Jacksonville Jaguars star CB Jalen Ramsey has asked for a trade. Here’s why the New York Jets should risk it to get the biscuit in trade discussions.

Not often does a top-five player regardless of position become available in trade discussions, but that is what has transpired with Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

If the Jaguars are serious about dealing their star player, the New York Jets should be first in line to kick the tires.

The first question that should be answered: why is a 24-year old star player in his prime at a position of need available in trade talk?

Ramsey has always been a fiery competitor, but sometimes that ‘passion’ has spilled over the lines:

• In 2017 he was involved in a physical altercation with Pro Bowl Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver AJ Green that resulted in punches being thrown and Jalen was ejected.
• While a year later in a highly publicized GQ article, Ramsey gave his unfiltered opinions on nearly every quarterback in the league criticizing their shortcomings.
• Most recently Jalen got in a shouting match with Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone in Week 2 vs the Houston Texans.

It is worth noting, that Jalen has not got into any off the field trouble in his career.

From @NFLTotalAccess: #Jaguars star CB Jalen Ramsey has asked to be traded ???. pic.twitter.com/2tApGWcfM2

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2019

Here are all the key details from NFL Insider Ian Rapoport on the Jalen Ramsey news.

Jalen Ramsey has asked for a trade from the Jaguars stemming from an altercation with head coach Doug Marrone. Per Rapoport, this wasn’t a one-time incident and the tension has been building.

One of the big tipping points apparently is Jalen’s frustration with the coaching staff because they haven’t used him enough in man-to-man situations. Ramsey has elite cover skills and is considered one of if not the best man-to-man corner in all of football.

Another important factor in this, how much is it going to cost?

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter suggested on Monday night that the Jaguars are looking for “at least one first-round pick but the team wants more than that in return for Jalen Ramsey.”

Some fans may balk at the asking price, but consider this, what’s a draft pick?

It’s an educated guess. When you draft someone you hope they can turn into something but that’s no guarantee. Want proof? Take a look at the draft history of the New York Jets.

Obviously, in an ideal world, a brand new general manager in Joe Douglas would like to keep his draft capital so he can build his team through the NFL Draft. But this is a special exception to the rule that should merit strong consideration.

Also on Monday night, we saw another corner (albeit a slot corner) traded for a 2020 first-round draft choice in the Pittsburgh Steelers – Miami Dolphins deal for Minkah Fitzpatrick. The floor of the market has been set.

When you consider that corner is one of the greatest team needs for the Jets. If you could trade for one of (if not) the best at that position of need and a proven player at that, why wouldn’t you explore it?

The logistics.

So anytime a really good player becomes available, it’s easy for someone to point at said player and point at their team without thinking of how all the logistics work, but let’s figure out those details.

Jalen Ramsey is signed through 2020 and is due to make $13.7 million next season. He has also been quite vocal that he would like a contract extension to make him the highest-paid corner in the league.

So much so in that he arrived at Jaguars training camp earlier this Summer in a Brinks truck.

#Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey let the team know he still wants to be paid by pulling up to training camp in a Brinks truck pic.twitter.com/7HfGmhVmSJ

— Unsportsmanlike Content™ (@UCSportsMedia) July 24, 2019

So what would that contract look like?

Xavien Howard of the Miami Dolphins is averaging over $15 million per season on his new deal. So you’d figure Jalen would want at least that.

According to Over The Cap, the team has just over $5 million in cap space currently.

Trying to project what will happen in 2020 is a funky business with all the cap casualties that’ll occur, trades, and overall roster movement. But if the Jets want to complete the trade, they can make the cap work for the future with a long term deal spreading the money out.

Here’s why he’s worth chasing.

Jalen is durable, he’s played 50-of-50 career games. Has collected over 202 career tackles, nine interceptions, and 45 pass deflections. Which has led to Jalen earning two Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro.

Plus just take a long look at the depth chart for the New York Jets at cornerback. Trumaine Johnson who was paid $72 million by the green and white was benched in Week 2 on Monday Night Football for his awful play.

If gang green pulls off this blockbuster, it won’t come cheap and it’ll cost some assets, but it’s a trade that can check off a major bucket list item for the New York Jets moving forward.