Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Jalen Ramsey be traded this offseason?

Is it possible that the Jacksonville Jaguars could trade star cornerback Jalen Ramsey this offseason?

Jalen Ramsey is an elite shutdown cornerback. His rookie contract will soon be expiring, but will the Jacksonville Jaguars be able to meet his contract demands? Is it reasonable to think that Jacksonville would trade him in the 2019 offseason?

Ramsey has definitely proven his value as the Jaguars top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has started from day one in his black and teal uniform. His play has warranted big money in his next contract.

According to Spotrac, Ramsey signed a four-year deal worth $23,351,000. He is scheduled to make just over $7.4 million in 2019. The following year, 2020, his fifth-year option will be on the table, and Jacksonville might or might not pick up.

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Contract negotiations can be a tricky thing. Ramsey should expect to be highly compensated as perhaps the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. Would the Jaguars put the franchise tag on Ramsey?

Would Ramsey consider holding out until the Jaguars extended his contract? Speculation grew last fall about Ramsey’s future in Jacksonville after this Adam Schefter of ESPN report:

"One league source said he “absolutely” believes the Jaguars will entertain the idea of trading Ramsey, while an NFL general manager said he would not be surprised if that’s the route the Jaguars decide to pursue."

The Jaguars quickly denied that Ramsey was going to be shopped around this offseason. Ramsey is a rare talent. Many teams would jump at the chance of acquiring his talented skill set. Should the Jaguars keep him at all cost? Remember, Deion Sanders played in several different uniforms. Would Jacksonville be better suited to accumulate draft picks by trading him?

You have to think that Ramsey is the one player that Jacksonville would never trade. Of course, his contract negotiations could get ugly. Expect the Jaguars to have a busy offseason. They will have to address their salary cap situation. It should be interesting how they handle the quarterback position and the NFL Draft. The offense needs an overhaul with quality depth.

Do not be surprised if Ramsey is moved during the draft. Doug Marrone promised a culture change beginning with offseason workouts. John Oehser of Jaguars.com reported the following:

"Marrone said while OTAs and offseason work are not mandatory, they remain critical."

Ramsey prefers to skip the non-mandatory stuff. If Ramsey signals that he will not participate, he might find himself elsewhere in late April.