Oakland Raiders have the ammunition to trade for Jalen Ramsey

The Raiders secondary hasn’t quite lived up to the hype that surrounded the unit when the season started. Could the Raiders make an early season trade to acquire Jalen Ramsey?

Let’s face it, Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is regarded across the NFL as the best cover corner in the league, and the Oakland Raiders could certainly use some help back there. After a week that saw the Raiders secondary shredded by a division rival, is it time for them to be players in a big trade once again?

It’s being reported that Ramsey wants out of Jacksonville and has asked for a trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.  

The 24-year-old corner has displayed his elite ability since coming into the league in 2016. Ramsey can lockdown any receiver with the best of them, thriving in man coverage situations throughout his young career.

By trading for the two-time pro-bowler, a high asking price in return is very likely.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported that Jacksonville wants at least a first-round pick in return.

The Raiders find themselves in the driver’s seat to contend in the potential bidding war to land Ramsey. Oakland has two 2020 first-round picks, $27 million in cap space for the 2019 season and $91 million for 2020.

The Raiders addressed their secondary this offseason when they added Lamarcus Joyner, Johnathan Abram and Trayvon Mullen. But, throughout the first two weeks they’ve been hit with some injuries in the secondary and the performance hasn’t been what the coaching staff had hoped of.

Adding someone of the caliber such as Ramsey would give Gareon Conley the opportunity to slide down as the No.2 corner. Conley has shown signs of being a promising corner, but still hasn’t been able to reach his top-end potential in being a shutdown guy.

Another intriguing aspect of Ramsey going to the Raiders – he suggested in early August that Las Vegas is one of his ideal playing spots.

Whether Mike Mayock or Jon Gruden have interest in Ramsey remains unknown, but it’s already documented that he would be interested in playing for the Raiders in Las Vegas. After watching Ramsey blow up on his head coach in Week 2, would the tandem of Mayock and Gruden, who were already burned by Antonio Brown, care to take a chance on him.

Over his career, Ramsey has recorded nine interceptions, 45 passes defended, and 202 total tackles. This is a Raiders secondary that is young, and talented, but adding Ramsey would give them a new look, and in 2020 when Abram gets back, the group could be elite.