We’re just two weeks into the NFL season and the trade rumor winds are blowing.
Last week, after the Miami Dolphins were shellacked by Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, word came down that multiple Dolphins players wanted no part of what was happening—or going to happen this season—in South Beach.
One of the more coveted players on that Miami roster is defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. The former 11th-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Fitzpatrick was reportedly granted his request to seek a trade last Friday, but that didn’t stop him from being Miami’s highest-graded player in Week 2’s blowout loss to New England—per Pro Football Focus:
Minkah Fitzpatrick was the highest-graded #Dolphins player in Week 2
— PFF MIA Dolphins (@PFF_Dolphins) September 16, 2019
- 85.0 overall
- targeted 1 time in coverage (10 yards)
- 2 defensive stops, forced fumble and fumble recovery #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/I8b9Feq2px
According to CBS Sports Jason La Canfora, the Dolphins were looking to have a deal for Fitzpatrick done by Tuesday, but the Pittsburgh Steelers were the lucky winners in the Fitzpatrick sweepstakes, dealing a first round pick to the Dolphins late Monday night to acquire the the uber-talented defensive back.
Even though Monday evening saw one door close, another door—one that definitely isn’t fake—had opened just hours before. Ian Rapoport sent NFL Twitter into a frenzy when he reported that Jalen Ramsey, one of the top young cornerbacks in the league, requested to be traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars:
Sources: #Jaguars Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey has requested a trade from the team. This stems from his frustration with how he’s being used and from a confrontation with coach Doug Marrone on Sunday. This has been steadily building.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2019
All of these trade talks about defensive backs are making me thirsty, so let’s get to today’s Question of the Day...
Should the Lions trade for Jalen Ramsey?
Fitzpatrick cost the Steelers just one first-round draft pick, and I can’t see the price tag for Ramsey being much more expensive. Pittsburgh was able to get a player just one year and two games into his rookie deal, and because of the way rookie contracts are structured, the Dolphins already paid 64 percent of Fitzpatrick’s contract, making him an absolute bargain for the next three years for Pittsburgh. However, Ramsey has just one year remaining on his current deal, something he’d probably like to start negotiating this offseason, and he’s just been involved in a very public blowup with his head coach. The Jaguars don’t have a ton of leverage until they start getting phone calls, which are sure to come for the Pro Bowl cornerback.
Adam Schefter reported the Jaguars are looking to get at least one first-round pick in return for Ramsey—if not more—but I really don’t see the price tag being much more costly than what Pittsburgh paid for Fitzpatrick.
That being said, if you’re Bob Quinn, your football team is undefeated—sorry, had to get that out there before I lost my chance this season. Adding a talent like Jalen Ramsey to play opposite of Darius Slay would turn this Lions defense into one of the top units in the league on paper. For as much as Matt Patricia loves to play man coverage and likes his cornerbacks to embrace a certain level of physicality, look no further than Ramsey being a perfect fit for Detroit’s defense.
If it simply were to cost the Lions a first-round pick to acquire Ramsey, Quinn would be wise to make that deal. If it were to involve some combination of pick swaps beyond that to sweeten the deal, it would still behoove Quinn to take that risk. Trading for Ramsey would transform this Lions defense. Mind you, Detroit is still waiting to return both Da’Shawn Hand and Jarrad Davis to their lineup. Throw in Ramsey to this mix and you’re talking about the makings of what would be a very, very talented defensive unit.
Your turn.