Former Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey can strengthen legacy in Super Bowl

There’s no doubt that former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is one of the best defenders in the NFL regardless of the position and he will have a chance to strengthen his legacy when he and the Los Angeles Rams take on Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Heading into Championship Sunday, Ramsey has been lobbying to shadow Chase. This doesn’t come as a surprise when you take into account the kind of competitor the former first-round pick is. Here’s what Ramsey had to say about playing against Chase during a sitdown with Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.

"It’s me now, it’s me, keep it real… Of course, that’s what I’m asking for. That’s what I want. Whoever you think their best man is, put me on him. Let me help the team win this game. That’s what it’s all about."

It seems like forever when it looked like Chase was struggling with his transition to the NFL. However, he proved the pro game wasn’t big enough for him and went on to haul in 81 receptions or 1,455 yards with 13 touchdowns during his rookie campaign. The former LSU Tiger has played a key role in the Bengals Super Bowl run and he will partake in one of the most important matchups of the game.

Similarly, it feels like forever since Ramsey was a member of the Jaguars, the team that drafted him fifth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. The former Florida State Seminole was an integral part of the Jags’ team that was one play away from facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 52. However, he was traded to the Rams during the 2019 season after a disagreement with Jacksonville’s front office.

The Jaguars didn’t do enough to keep Jalen Ramsey around.

At the time of Ramsey’s trade, it looked like the Jaguars have gotten the best out of it, as they got two first-round selections and a fourth-rounder in exchange for him. However, they haven’t much production from the players they used those selections on. With the first-round pick the Jags got, they selected outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, who has failed to make an impact during his first two NFL seasons. With the other draft choice, Jacksonville took running back Travis Etienne 35th overall in the 2021 draft. The former Clemson Tiger missed his rookie campaign with a Lisfranc injury.

Meanwhile, Ramsey has been selected to three straight Pro Bowls and has earned two First-Team All-Pro after landing in Los Angeles. You could make a case that he didn’t want to be with the Jaguars but he wasn’t a diva nor a trouble-maker and has been out of the spotlight for the wrong reasons since joining the Rams. If anything, the Jaguars didn’t do enough to keep him. Instead of finding a compromise with one of their best players, they thought that trading him was the best course of action.

The Rams gladly parted ways with two first-round picks because they knew what kind of difference-maker Ramsey was, and their investment is paying off, as he is one of the many reasons they’re in the Super Bowl. Moving forward, the Jaguars can’t let players of Ramsey’s caliber walk away if they want to right the ship and start to win games.