Kansas City Chiefs: Jalen Ramsey trade should happen no matter cost
The Kansas City Chiefs are clearly Super Bowl contenders but their defense must improve and a Jalen Ramsey trade is the perfect way to accomplish that.
Jalen Ramsey‘s trade saga with the Jacksonville Jaguars continues as he remains in teal, at least in theory. Ramsey has not suited up the past two weeks for the Jaguars as speculation about where he could be traded is ongoing. The Kansas City Chiefs, however, need to put an end to it and make a deal happen.
Initially, the asking price for a Jalen Ramsey trade from the Jaguars was reportedly two first-round picks. However, it now seems that the Chiefs or any other team looking to make a deal for the All-Pro caliber cornerback can’t just offer any two first-round picks.
On Sunday, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported that the Jaguars actually turned down an offer for Ramsey that included two first-round picks. The reason they said no was that the Jaguars front office believed the selections would be too close to the No. 32 pick and the end of the first round.
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That’s particularly interesting as it pertains to the Chiefs. Armed with Patrick Mahomes and a seemingly unstoppable offense, Kansas City is 4-0 and clearly on the path to competing for a Super Bowl title. Thus, they would fall into the category of offering first-round picks that fall at the end of the first round (heck, they could even be the mystery team from La Canfora’s report).
If there’s one thing that is keeping Andy Reid‘s team from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Miami, though, it’s the defense. Yes, they have made some improvements but they are still quite susceptible.
Mahomes and the Chiefs were made acutely aware of this in Week 4 as they needed a well-executed two-minute drill to earn a comeback victory over the Detroit Lions. In that game, Matthew Stafford was able to do just about anything he wanted, throwing for 291 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
While adding Jalen Ramsey wouldn’t solve Kansas City’s issues against the run that they’ve had so far this year, he would immediately upgrade their secondary. Pairing that with a strong pass rush that includes new addition Frank Clark and staple Chris Jones, the Chiefs would undeniably take a massive leap forward.
Ramsey entering the fold in Kansas City would assuredly take their defense from marginally better than last season to at least league average. And when that’s paired with an elite offense like the one the Chiefs possess, that makes them the clear-cut Super Bowl favorites.
Given the report from La Canfora, however, two first-round picks from the Chiefs isn’t going to get a deal done. Whether they need to add more compensation to the mix or not, it shouldn’t matter. No cost should be too high for the Chiefs in their current situation.
Outside of the New England Patriots, the most successful team-building strategy that we’ve seen in recent years is aggressively improving the roster to capitalize on having a star quarterback on a rookie contract. Mahomes and Kansas City remain in that position and are on the cusp of winning a title already. If there’s a move that can be made to put them over the edge, it’s impossible not to do it.
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Would adding Ramsey and signing him to a subsequent extension put the Chiefs in a tough spot as it pertains to the salary cap moving forward? Most likely. But would fans and the organization take those issues if it meant bringing a Super Bowl win to Kansas City? It’s hard to speak for everyone but, from where I’m sitting, that kind of move would be worth it every time.