Whether It’s Cost or Culture Concern, Jalen Ramsey Isn’t Worth It For the Eagles
Yesterday, Adam Schefter reported that star corner for the Jaguars, Jalen Ramsey wants OUT. The trade request come shortly after Ramsey and his head coach, Doug Marrone almost kicked off UFC 244 a bit early.
Since this is a player with any semblance of relevance attached to their name, Eagles fans are all in. Count me out, here’s why:
VALUE
Among the trade rumors buzzing around Ramsey’s name, it was reported (again by Schefter) that the Jags are looking for a first round pick AND THEN SOME for their cornerback. Hard to blame them given his talent, it’s only his fourth season, and they originally used a top 5 pick on him (ironically, it was the Wentz draft). Quick sidebar, that draft class was so loaded, when it’s all said and done there may be a 2003-04 NBA Draft type documentary done on that Ramsey/Wentz, etc. draft. But, back to one of those guys already being shipped out. It would be crazy for the Eagles to give up multiple picks, including their 2020 1st round pick to land him. This current Eagles roster is talented in the trenches, but we are dangerously close to having to retool the whole thing. It started with drafting Andre Dillard and it probably doesn’t stop there, in fact, they may focus on the defensive line next. Brandon Graham is in season 10, Vinny Curry is on a one year deal, Tim Jernigan is on a one year deal. This team is obviously in a win now window, but if you want to extend that window with Wentz, they need to get younger up front.
It’s really hard to sit here and say we should prioritize the line over the secondary after Ronald Darby just paid a touching tribute to Byron Maxwell on Sunday in Atlanta. So, maybe Howie prioritizes the back end and lands Jalen Ramsey considering his age and multi-year team control (signed through 2020).
If Howie does pull the trigger, it’ll play out the same way it always does with us Eagles fans. We will be so excited about our shiny new toy. Then come April, hometown hero D’Andre Swift will still be on the board and the whole fan base will be like, “aw fuck, I wish we had our first round pick so we could get that guy”. It’s like clockwork.
ATTITUDE
Jalen Ramsey showed up to Training Camp in a Brinks truck. Everyone on the Eagles roster showed up to Training Camp with the expectation to win. That shit looks cool, but it doesn’t happen at a facility of a winning franchise. Jalen Ramsey is basically like if a Hollywood script writer took Boobie Miles from Friday Night Lights and tried to make that character somehow more unrealistically obnoxious.
Some of the stuff with Ramsey can be chalked up to him just being overly passionate. Him crying on the bench, the internet may have flamed him, but that’s just a guy who wants to win and is tired of losing. Give me the guy who hates losing so much he will ball his eyes out if it happens. It’s all the other shit with Ramsey that should maybe raise some red flags. I mean, to the people suggesting Howie give the Jags whatever they want, aren’t you at least a bit concerned about the fact he is on the trading block to begin with is because he tried to fight his head coach? There’s always a clip, there’s always a headline, there’s always something negative following him around. When the Jags briefly sniffed success back in 2017, Ramsey did an interview in the offseason ripping the majority of NFL quarterbacks to shreds (hilariously enough, he did have a ton of praise for Carson). After that interview, dating back to last season’s win over the Patriots, the Jaguars are 2-12. It’s DEFINITLEY not Ramsey’s fault they are in that predicament, but it’s also not a great look for him.
Just give us a headache free Eagles season.
FINAL WORD
Landing Jalen Ramsey comes down to a classic case of headache vs. talent. Do you worry more about Ramsey being divisive in the locker room due to his attitude? Or do you worry more about Ronald Darby’s new coverage technique of letting the receiver blow by him and praying to God it’s overthrown? Personally, I just don’t see the risk of Ramsey (and the hefty package it would take to get him) being worth the reward.