All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey wants out of Jacksonville following a heated argument with coach Doug Marrone during the Jaguars' loss on Sunday to the Tennessee Titans.
There's a lot of speculation on where Ramsey might eventually end up. At least two teams have already reportedly made offers for the game-changing cornerback with several more inquiring about the defender.
Dan Graziano of ESPN speculated on five potential landing spots for Ramsey, should the Jaguars go through with a trade. Among those five are the San Francisco 49ers. The others are the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and Philadelphia Eagles.
First, it is essential to look at what it might cost an interested team to acquire Ramsey. Graziano notes that, according to sources, Ramsey's trade demand is not about a new contract. Instead, it is more about getting out of a bad situation in Jacksonville. That's a key point because the Jaguars already picked up Ramsey's fifth-year option, which means he's signed through the 2020 season.
Still, any interested team will have to be prepared to make Ramsey the highest-paid cornerback in football within the next couple of years. First, they will have to give up a significant amount of assets just to acquire the cornerback.
Graziano reports that the Jaguars want at least a first-round pick in exchange for Ramsey. At least. An interested team will probably have to throw in another high pick and/or a marquee player.
"Again, Ramsey is as good as anyone in the league at the very important position he plays," writes Graziano. "He's quite young. He's a building-block player for any team that acquires him, and the Jaguars are asking for a price commensurate with that."
Why does Graziano see the 49ers as a potential fit for a trade partner with the Jaguars?
First, I think it is significant to note that Graziano projects San Francisco to own the No. 27 overall pick in next year's draft, which would mean a pretty good 2019 campaign by the team. The Seahawks, by comparison, are projected to own the No. 19 overall pick.
Back to Ramsey and the 49ers, Graziano notes that cornerback Richard Sherman has played well but won't be in San Francisco forever. The 31-year-old veteran is in the second season of his three-year deal. The NFL insider believes 2019 to be critical for head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, who are in their third year with the team with the pressure to win higher than it has ever been.
"They have nothing but cap space and some defensive front-seven types they could send back to help make it wash," writes Graziano. "Ramsey would be a win-now and a build-for-the-future piece for them."
Click here to read the entire feature over at ESPN.