ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jacksonville is considering trading cornerback Jalen Ramsey in the offseason. If that’s the case, the Bucs should pounce on Ramsey in March when the 2019 NFL offseason officially begins and trades can once again occur.

Jaguars likely to consider trading CB Jalen Ramsey in offseason, per league sources.https://t.co/WzlgVgVRiO

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 18, 2018

Ramsey, the ultra-talented, 6-foot-1, 208-pound cornerback was the fifth overall pick in 2016 – the year that Tampa Bay traded down from ninth to 11th to select cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, who has been injured and hasn’t panned out. It seems Ramsey’s mouth has made him wear out his welcome in Tom Coughlin’s buttoned-down organization, and that Ramsey and the Jaguars defense is having a down year after leading the way for a playoff run by Jacksonville that ended in a loss at New England in the AFC Championship Game after beating the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the divisional playoff round.

Ramsey has 30 tackles, four pass breakups and one interception this year, after having a career-high four picks, 17 pass breakups and 63 tackles last season in which he was a first-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro selection. Ramsey had 65 tackles, 14 pass breakups, two interceptions, including a pick-six, and a forced fumble as a rookie in 2016, and would greatly upgrade Tampa Bay’s weak secondary, which is lacking play-makers and leadership.

Hargreaves has just one career interception and has spent the last seven weeks on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. The Bucs secondary has greatly struggled this year and only has one interception, and that came in Week 3 when free safety Justin Evans picked off Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

Former FSU DB Jalen Ramsey – Photo by: Getty Images

Acquiring Ramsey would likely cost a first-round pick in 2019, but given his proven experience, play-making ability and leadership quality, Ramsey would be worth investing in by the Buccaneers over taking a chance on an unproven cornerback coming out of college. Ramsey is considered to be an alpha male type leader, but has raised eyebrows with his brash personality, and that might be the reason why he’s on the outs in Jacksonville aside from his lack of plays on the ball after two more productive seasons in 2016-17.

Ramsey, who played collegiately at Florida State with Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston, has his fans inside the current Buccaneers regime, most notably general manager Jason Licht. If Licht remains in control of the organization, expect him to be interested in acquiring Ramsey as a possible replacement for 35-year old Brent Grimes, whose contract expires at the end of this season and will likely retire.

UPDATE: The Jaguars have released a statement saying that the team has no interest in trading Ramsey. However, Schefter is a damn good reporter and where there is smoke there is usually fire. It certainly doesn’t help Jacksonville to have this rumor out there right now with seven weeks left in the 2018 season, so naturally the team would want to squelch a rumor like this. We’ll have to wait and see what ultimately happens in March 2019.