Jalen Ramsey - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Notes: Ramsey, Steelers, Kafka

October 12th, 2019 at 9:20pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It looks like Jaguars owner Shad Khan was mistaken. Khan, who has seemingly been overly optimistic about the Jalen Ramsey situation ever since his trade demand became public, said earlier this week that he expected Ramsey to play in Week 6. That was apparently news to Ramsey, and his camp soon put out word that he hadn’t committed to playing this week. Indeed, it “would be a major surprise if he plays this week,” tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Ramsey was limited in practice all week, which is obviously a step in the right direction considering he hadn’t practiced until then since his back injury popped up. All indications are that Ramsey hasn’t wavered from his trade demand, although Khan continues to act like nothing is wrong. The Jaguars owner has also said he intends to give the Florida State product a record-breaking extension. Jacksonville has a tough game against the Saints on Sunday, and it looks like Gardner Minshew will be leading them into the game shorthanded.

Here’s more from the AFC:

Speaking of injured cornerbacks, Steelers corner Steven Nelson won’t be playing this week either. Nelson suffered a groin injury during the team’s Week 5 loss to the Ravens, and the team just announced he’s been ruled out. In his place, Pittsburgh will start 2016 first-round pick Artie Burns. Burns has been labeled a bust by many and the Steelers declined his fifth-year option this past offseason, which shows you how they feel about him. Nelson had been playing pretty well alongside Joe Haden, so this is a big downgrade to the Steelers’ secondary as they prepare to take on the Chargers.
Add one more young assistant coach to the list of ones to monitor in the Chiefs’ Mike Kafka. Kafka is “very well respected” and is a possible future head coach, tweets Adam Caplan of Sirius XM NFL radio. Kafka was a former backup quarterback for the Eagles, and he now works under his former head coach Andy Reid. Kafka is Patrick Mahomes‘ position coach and there’s a long history of former Reid assistants landing head jobs, so it certainly makes sense.
In case you missed it, the Jets moved on from quarterback Luke Falk after he started the last two weeks for them.

Jalen Ramsey Hasn’t Changed Stance, Not Committed To Playing Week 6

October 10th, 2019 at 1:06pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Pump the brakes on Jalen Ramsey‘s return to the Jaguars’ lineup. Earlier today, Jags owner Shad Khan said he expected Ramsey to play in Week 6 after having a “heart to heart” with the young cornerback. However, that’s apparently far from guaranteed. Ramsey is still just “going to listen to his body,” and nothing has changed in terms of his trade demand, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link).

Khan continues to publicly express positivity, but it sounds like he’s either a little overly optimistic, or he’s just putting on a good face for the media. When asked about a recent report that Jacksonville wouldn’t take five first-rounders for Ramsey, Khan replied by asking “do you understand value? Then I think you already know the answer.” He also admitted every player has a price, so Khan certainly didn’t rule out a trade, and he added “I think we’ll be able to come to whatever makes sense for all.”

The Jaguars sit at 2-3 and have a pivotal game against the Saints coming up, so they could obviously use Ramsey. The Florida State product has remained steadfast in his trade request, and also is dealing with a back injury. Ramsey visited a back specialist in Houston last week, but the fact that Khan expects him to play would suggest it isn’t anything too serious.

The team isn’t considering trade offers, and Khan has said he wants to give Ramsey a record-breaking contract extension. Ramsey returned to a limited practice Wednesday, but the fact that his camp wanted Anderson’s report out there is a clear sign that they’re not committing to playing this Sunday. We should know more about his status shortly.

Jaguars Expect Jalen Ramsey To Play

October 10th, 2019 at 10:34am CST by Zachary Links

Jalen Ramsey will return to play for the Jaguars on Sunday. At least, that’s the impression owner Shad Khan has after a “heart to heart” chat with the cornerback.

“Well, I think he’s going to be playing this week,” Khan said (via Katherine Ross of The Street). “It’s something, you have to balance what’s good for the team with what the individual maybe wishes it might be. And I think we’ll be able to kind of formalize it here.”

Ramsey was limited in practice on Wednesday, but his participation was, possibly, a sign of a major breakthrough. For weeks, Ramsey has been steadfast in his demand for a trade. Now, things might be turning a corner.

Khan has expressed a willingness to make Ramsey one of the highest paid cornerbacks in the NFL – or perhaps the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL – and that could be enough to mollify Ramsey’s concerns. It’s still worth noting that Ramsey has had flare-ups with head coach Doug Marrone, specifically over the way he has been deployed in zone coverage rather than man-to-man coverage.

The Jaguars clearly don’t want to trade Ramsey between now and the Oct. 31 deadline, but even Khan admits there’s a price tag for every player. When asked about a recent report that the Jaguars wouldn’t trade Ramsey for five first-round picks, Khan answered with a rhetorical question:

“Do you understand value? Then I think you already know the answer.”

Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey Returns To Practice

October 9th, 2019 at 10:24am CST by Zachary Links

Jalen Ramsey will practice on Wednesday, according to the Jaguars’ daily rundown. It’s a potentially huge development for the star cornerback, who has been away from the team and pushing for a trade.

Ramsey has not seen live action since Week 3 and has been out of practice with a blend of officially listed reasons. Among them: back issues and the birth of his daughter. Unofficially, many believe that Ramsey has been keeping his distance in an effort to have his trade demand met.

The Jaguars have reportedly stopped considering offers for the soon-to-be 25-year-old and owner Shad Khan wants to lock Ramsey up with the type of extension that he was previously pushing for. Ramsey, at last check, was sticking to his guns. And, according to one report, the Jaguars wouldn’t even trade Ramsey for five first-round picks.

It’s not immediately clear whether Ramsey’s practice participation means that he’ll play against the Saints on Sunday.

Jaguars Not Considering Jalen Ramsey Offers

October 7th, 2019 at 9:56am CST by Zachary Links

Trade rumors continue to swirl around Jalen Ramsey, but the Jaguars continue to tell teams that he is not available. The club has not considered trade offers for the Pro Bowler over the last week or so, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

[SOURCE: Jaguars Wouldn’t Trade Ramsey For Five First-Round Picks]

Meanwhile, Rapoport hears that Ramsey’s request still stands. That’s no real surprise – recently, owner Shad Khan tried to reignite contract talks with a willingness to give Ramsey a monster extension. Still, Ramsey says he’s unwilling to remain in Jacksonville.

Ramsey has been out of action since the club’s Thursday night contest against the Titans, citing an ongoing back issue and other ailments. On Monday morning, Ramsey will meet with a back specialist in Houston, per the Jaguars’ request.

Ramsey, one of the game’s very best corners, will turn 25 on October 24. The trade deadline is just days later, on Oct. 29.

Latest On Jalen Ramsey, Jaguars

October 6th, 2019 at 9:53am CST by Rory Parks

Jalen Ramsey has dominated NFL headlines over the past several weeks, and it seems his standoff with the Jaguars is no closer to a resolution. Jags owner Shad Khan refuses to have a player dictate how he runs his club, and he remains determined to retain Ramsey and rebuff all trade offers, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes.

Indeed, one source told Schefter that the Jags wouldn’t trade Ramsey for five first-round draft picks. We heard last week that the Jags rejected an offer of two first-rounders for Ramsey, and Schefter confirms as much. However, Schefter also says the team that made the offer wanted a second-round pick from the Jags to help offset the loss of so much draft capital, but the Jags weren’t interested in those terms.

One of the complicating factors in a potential trade is that, in addition to the premium draft picks that an acquiring team would have to give up, said team would also have to give Ramsey a massive contract extension. But Schefter says Ramsey would be willing to play for another team without having a contract extension in place, so at least an interested club wouldn’t have to negotiate with Ramsey and the Jaguars prior to completing a trade.

On the other hand, even if the Jaguars were interested in trading Ramsey, it’s unclear whether he could pass a physical due to the back injury that is keeping him out of a second straight game. Though plenty are skeptical about the severity of the injury, there appears to be at least some legitimate concern over it.

AFC Notes: Ramsey, Texans, Dolphins, Jets

October 5th, 2019 at 6:12pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is going to miss his second straight game with back issues. Many have questioned the timing of his back injury, since it has coincided with his public demands to be traded. But speaking on The Uninterrupted’s “17 Weeks” podcast this week, Ramsey revealed the injury isn’t anything new. “My body was banged up, my back being extremely tight. Having back issues is something I’ve had to deal with over the course of my NFL career. At times I’ve played through extreme pain or not practiced for weeks and tried to go out there and play. It’s something I’ve dealt with,” Ramsey said, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.

DiRocco notes that Ramsey appeared on Jacksonville’s injury report with a back issue a couple of times back in 2017. As for his trade request, there isn’t much new on that front. The Jaguars’ ownership is reportedly fighting hard for Ramsey and trying to convince him to stay, but so far the Florida State product hasn’t wavered. Meanwhile, the Jags have apparently turned down an offer of two first-rounders.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

The Texans signed veteran safety Mike Adams last week, and now we have details on his contract. Adams will receive $787K for the rest of the season, which prorates from $1.03MM if he had been on the roster for all 16 games, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Adams will only count for $553K against the Texans’ cap, and he received a $60K signing bonus. Adams is a longtime veteran who is entering his 16th season, and he’s appeared in 222 games during his lengthy career.
The Dolphins are worried that a day-two pick in the 2020 NFL Draft they’d been banking on might get downgraded, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Miami was projected to receive a third-round compensatory pick for losing tackle Ja’Wuan James to the Broncos in free agency, but that’s now in danger of becoming a fourth-rounder. Jackson cites Nick Korte of Overthecap.com’s analysis, who notes that because James has now missed a handful of games with a knee injury, his contract might be deemed less valuable in the NFL’s complex compensatory pick formula. James signed a massive four-year, $52MM deal this offseason, but he’s been sidelined since Week 1 with a knee injury. He appears to be nearing a return, but if he misses much more time it could have negative implications for his former team. The Dolphins have been stockpiling draft assets as they tank, and they’ve been counting on having four day-two picks next April.
The Jets have started off the Adam Gase era 0-3, and they’re massive underdogs against the Eagles this week. Unfortunately they’ll be without Sam Darnold for at least one more game, but they are making a shakeup on their offensive line. Rookie Chuma Edoga is going to replace Brandon Shell in the lineup at right tackle, sources told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. New York drafted Edoga 92nd overall out of USC back in April. The Jets drafted Shell in the fifth-round back in 2016, and Mehta writes that the team is likely to let him walk in free agency this spring. Their offensive line has been a mess so far this season, so it isn’t surprising they’re making a move.

Jaguars Rule Out Jalen Ramsey

October 4th, 2019 at 12:55pm CST by Zachary Links

No surprise here – the Jaguars have officially ruled out cornerback Jalen Ramsey for Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Officially, the Jaguars say that Ramsey will be unable to play due to a back injury. On that front, head coach Doug Marrone says that Ramsey will see a specialist sometime soon.

[POLL: Is Ramsey Worth Two First-Round Picks?]

Unofficially, it’s believed that Ramsey has been staying away from the Jaguars to reinforce the message that he wants out. The soon-to-be 25-year-old suited up against the Titans, even after reports of his dissatisfaction surfaced, but he away from the team during their Week 4 win over the Broncos.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan reportedly wants to pay the man and keep him in Jacksonville, but, so far, Ramsey has not been swayed. A trade feels inevitable, though the asking price is now set at two first-round picks, and then some.

After the Jaguars face the Panthers, sans Ramsey, they’ll return home to face the Saints on Oct. 13. It’s anyone’s guess as to whether the cornerback will join them for that contest.

Poll: Is Jalen Ramsey Worth Two First-Round Picks?

October 4th, 2019 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

Jalen Ramsey wants out. The Jaguars, meanwhile, don’t necessarily want to let him go.

The Jags’ star cornerback has been frustrated for some time – he’s been openly campaigning for a top-of-the-market extension, but the Jaguars have been mostly unwilling to have serious talks with him. Then, this season, he had a major blowup with head coach Doug Marrone.

On the field, Ramsey is upset that he has been utilized in zone coverage, even though he ranks as one of the league’s best man-to-man defenders. Off the field, he wants to secure the bag, though he no longer wants that bag to come from the willing hands of owner Shad Khan.

With that in mind, the Jaguars seem to be following the old axiom of “Don’t tell them no. Tell ’em how much it’ll cost.” The asking price was initially set at two first-round picks for Ramsey. Now, it has advanced to two first-round picks, plus more. The Jaguars did secure an offer of two first-round picks, but they declined, because the offer came from a contending club that is likely to pick near the backend of the draft.

Reportedly, it will take an “astronomical” offer for the Jags to part with him, but that could just be an attempt by the Jaguars to improve their leverage. Meanwhile, roughly every other team in the NFL has at least some interest, but they’re scared off by the draft capital required since acquiring Ramsey would also mean giving him a fat contract.

Of course, a first-round pick from, say, the Patriots, does not carry the same value as a first-round pick from, say, the Dolphins. But – we want to know: if you were an NFL GM, would you be willing to cough up two first-round picks for Ramsey, with the knowledge that you would also have to give him an extension north of $75MM?

Cast your vote below (link for app users) and back up your choice in the comments.

Is Jalen Ramsey Worth Two 1st Round Picks?

No 69.74% (2,318 votes)

Yes 30.26% (1,006 votes)

Total Votes: 3,324

Latest On Jags’ Jalen Ramsey Asking Price

October 3rd, 2019 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

After more than a week of trade buzz, with rumors pointing to another blockbuster deal, the Jaguars are standing firm on Jalen Ramsey. And the asking price is rising.

Shad Khan has now said he is willing to make Ramsey the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback and that the organization has no plans to deal the fourth-year cornerback. While we’ve seen teams buckle on such stances recently, like the Giants before their Odell Beckham Jr. trade, per Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio (Twitter link) it will take an “astronomical” offer to get Ramsey out of Jacksonville.

More specifically, the previously reported Jags price of two first-rounders has moved to “two firsts and then some,” Caplan adds. This comes after a recent report indicated Jacksonville turned down a contending team’s offer of two first-rounders. Ramsey has not practiced since the Jaguars’ Week 3 win over the Titans, which was the same day his interview discussing issues with Jacksonville’s front office surfaced. He has since reiterated his desire to be traded on multiple occasions.

The Chiefs, Chargers and Ravens have been recent teams to express interest, with SI.com’s Albert Breer tabbing Kansas City as one of Ramsey’s preferred destinations. Ramsey is tied to the Jaguars through 2020. The team that said it will not give him an extension this year is, for now, holding the standout corner to that pact and fending off interest from most of the NFL.

It’s possible the Jags believe they can entice a team to pay more for the standout corner, with a few contenders in need of boundary-coverage help. The most notable return any team has received for a corner in recent years was the package of first- and fourth-round picks the Jets obtained from the Buccaneers in the 2013 Darrelle Revis trade. But with a less accomplished player like Laremy Tunsil fetching two 1s, this is a situation worth monitoring.