Tennessee Titans: Let the Jalen Ramsey trade speculation begin

Let the Jalen Ramsey to Tennessee Titans trade speculation begin.

Whether it’s realistic or not — it’s not — you’re inevitably going to hear speculation that the Tennessee Titans could acquire Jalen Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Following a sideline spat with head coach Doug Marrone during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 2 loss to the Houston Texans, Ramsey has demanded to be traded, according to NFL Network insider, Ian Rapoport.

While it looks like the Jags might oblige Ramsey’s request, the team is seeking a first-round pick just to start talks about any trade involving the star corner, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

So, what could possibly link the Titans to a possible trade for Ramsey?

For starters, Ramsey is a Tennessee native, he was a Titans fan growing up, and he still owns a home in the state.

Adding to that, during an episode of Bussin’ with the Boys that aired in August, Ramsey said if he were to leave Jacksonville, the two destinations he’d prefer would be the Titans and Raiders.

That’s all well and good, but there are a few problems with any hope of Jalen Ramsey being traded to Tennessee.

It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which the Jaguars would trade Ramsey to a division rival, which would then lead to them having to face their former No. 5 overall pick twice this year, and quite possibly twice a year for years to come.

Not to mention, the optics of the Jags helping to strengthen what is already a stout Titans defense two games into the start of the regular season by trading them one of the best cover corners in the NFL.

For the Titans, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to add Ramsey with what it would cost.

I just don’t see general manager Jon Robinson giving up that kind of haul, especially when he already has a stacked and expensive secondary consisting of cornerbacks Adoree’ Jackson, Logan Ryan, and Malcolm Butler.

Now, if you want to tell me that the Titans would give up one of those players in a deal for Ramsey, then it would make a bit more sense.

Of course, we have no idea if the Jags would even want any of those three, and I’m 100 percent certain Ryan would not be part of any package, and Butler is making a lot of money that the Jags likely wouldn’t want to take on.

The only bright side of this whole thing for Titans fans hoping to land Ramsey is that he does control his own destiny somewhat.

Ramsey will be in the fifth year of his rookie deal in 2020 and if he refuses to sign an extension with whatever team acquires him, that team won’t be willing to give up much, if anything, to get him as what could amount to nothing more than a short-term rental.

I’d venture to guess that Ramsey would be willing to sign an extension, or perhaps play out the last year of his rookie deal, with the Titans. But again, I refer you to the reasons both teams wouldn’t want to make that kind of deal happen.

For Titans fans who want this to happen, just know that the deck is stacked against it. The best chance the Titans will have to get Jalen Ramsey will be in the future should he become a free agent after the 2020 season — and even that doesn’t seem realistic at this point because Ramsey will want an extension prior to next season.