Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey won’t receive contract extension this season

The Jacksonville Jaguars will not offer Jalen Ramsey a contract extension this season, the cornerback told the media on Tuesday.

Jalen Ramsey told the media on Tuesday following the Jacksonville Jaguars first day of mandatory minicamp that he would not be receiving a contract extension this season.

The news wasn’t all that unexpected given the team announced prior to the NFL Draft it will pick up Ramsey’s fifth-year option for 2020 that will pay him $13.7 million. It’s one of the many things the fourth-year cornerback talked about in the afternoon in the hot Florida sun.

"“It is something that we have expressed of course and kind of got into. I let my agent talk to the [Jaguars] and they have had dialogue of course. As far as I know, I’ve been let know that I will not be getting a contract extension. I will not be getting a contract extension this year. You all take that however you may want to take that, but I’m excited to be …,” Ramsey said.“As long as I’m a part of this organization, as long as I’m part of Duval County, I’m going to give the city and the players all I’ve got. I think you all know that. I have fought through injuries. I have fought through everything. I have not missed a game. I think I am in a similar situation as Yann as far as I have outplayed my rookie contract, and I feel I have earned a new contract, but at the end of the day, it’s not the end of the world. I am tremendously blessed. I am so blessed that I am not down or anything like that at all. That is the circumstance. That is what I have been told.”"

There was a lot to unpack from what the former All-Pro said, starting the question and answer period off with a statement of how he going into this season to his feelings on Yannick Ngakoue’s contract situation to his love for Telvin Smith and how he and his “brother” and FSU teammate talk every day. What you saw and heard was a more mature and calculated player who doesn’t want to be a “leader” of the defense by the words he speaks, but the unquestioned leader of this unit by his actions on the field.

These are good things for the Jaguars and Ramsey to focus on as the team concludes mandatory minicamp on Thursday and does not return to training camp until the latter part of July.

The Jaguars secondary looks different from last season without Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson on the field. The linebacker room is different without Smith, who is taking the season off to deal with personal issues. For now, the defensive line is different without Ngakoue on the field as he is not happy with the situation of a contract extension not being reached with the organization.

In only his first day of practice, having spent the team during OTAs in Tennessee preparing for the season, the focus as clear – Jalen Ramsey is ready to play football.

"“Once you get into year four and things like this, people expect you to put yourself in a leadership role. I know some of those questions may be coming up and people may be wondering about that and my feeling has always been on that that I don’t want to … That is not something you can force,” he added.“I want to continue being myself, being even more supportive of my teammates and leading kind of from behind the scenes and by actions more so than breaking down the team and giving speeches to the team. That is not how I view leadership. I think there are different ways to lead. I want to kind of start with that first and foremost. As far as me developing and evolving into a better player and teammate for this team.”"

Ramsey and running back Leonard Fournette immediately took to social media in their support of Ngakoue and his decision. He said he and the former third-round pick out of Maryland who was in the same draft class have outplayed their rookie deals. He’s earned a big payday as far as Ramsey is concerned.

"“I think he deserves it. That is something that his team and the Jags will have to figure out, and I hope they can figure it out because I definitely want him a part of this team,” Ramsey added. “As long as I am a part of this team, I want him to be a part of this team. We built something special. There are a few guys who really came in and changed the culture and made things pop and he’s definitely one of them.”"