Jalen Ramsey makes headlines almost every time he speaks. Monday was no different.
The Jacksonville Jaguars Pro Bowl cornerback has requested a trade following brewing tensions with the organization, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday night.
Rapoport cited a number of reasons for Ramsey's frustration with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2016, among them being the confrontation he had with coach Doug Marrone in the first quarter of the team's Week 2 game against the Texans.
When asked about the spat after the game, Marrone said there was "a lot of emotion in that game" and that he couldn't recall the reasons behind why the argument occurred in the first place. The Jaguars would fall to 0-2 after dropping Sunday's game 13-12.
Rapoport also noted that Ramsey's issues with the organization stem from how he's being used on defense. Ramsey has made a living out of being one of the best pure cover corners in the NFL; through the first two games of the season, defensive coordinator Todd Wash has had Ramsey play zone, an obvious difference from the man-to-man scheme he shines in.
Ramsey's rookie contract is set to expire at the end of the 2020 season, and he has already made it known he has been eyeing other franchises should he hit the market. In August, Ramsey expressed that he would have interest in playing for the Titans or Raiders, saying the lack of state income tax and the chance to make moves beyond the game would be the biggest perks of playing for the soon-to-be Las Vegas-based franchise.
Every top wideout in the league knows Ramsey's name and what he can do; most recently, Texans' star DeAndre Hopkins, a noted rival of Ramsey's, called the outspoken CB his "favorite corner to play against." Pro Football Focus ranked Ramsey the second-best CB entering 2019, only behind Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore. PFF also sees Ramsey as a top bounce-back candidate after he performed below his standards a year ago despite making his second straight Pro Bowl.
The Jaguars have yet to comment on Ramsey's request nor have any potential trade suitors emerged to stake their claim. But you can guarantee that every GM in the league will be working overtime to see if they can appease all sides: the Jaguars in the short-term and Ramsey both this season and beyond.
