MIAMI, FLORIDA – AUGUST 22: Jalen Ramsey #20 of the Jacksonville Jaguars takes the field prior to the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Although Shahid Khan has tried to convince Jalen Ramsey to remain with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the superstar cornerback is still adamant on receiving a trade.
The Jacksonville Jaguars had issues with Jalen Ramsey that began to bubble to the surface this offseason, and there is a clear rift between the superstar cornerback and executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin, who is notorious for being a disciplinarian with players.
Ramsey initially requested a trade from the Jaguars after the team’s Week 2 loss, during which he and head coach Doug Marrone appeared to have a spat on the sidelines. The former Florida State star’s issues reportedly lie with Coughlin and not Marrone.
Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, perhaps recognizing Ramsey’s star power and value to the organization in their quest to win the AFC South, stated that he’s willing to make the corner the highest-paid player at the position.
Unfortunately for the Jaguars, this hasn’t changed Ramsey’s mind. As the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport relays, Ramsey said on his podcast that his “trade request still stands” in spite of the team owner’s best efforts.
One issue standing in the way of the trade is compensation. While Ramsey is disgruntled – and has been for quite some time, largely due to Coughlin’s unwillingness to make him the league’s highest-paid player on a long-term deal – the Jaguars know his value. They aren’t going to “sell low” on the player, even if they may be forced to do that.
Jacksonville is reportedly asking for two first-round picks from teams interested in Ramsey, which is a hefty price to pay, especially when including the contract he (deservedly) wants. As the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports, no team has bit on that offer. If Ramsey forces his way out, Jacksonville will have to lower their asking price, though they should still receive a massive offer due to the number of teams who could use a young and elite corner.
Ramsey’s issues in Jacksonville aren’t ending any time soon, and it seems like a split is inevitable. Given how slow Coughlin and Co. were to the punch this offseason at the bargaining table, it’s fair to say that the Jaguars could have seen this coming.