Kansas City Chiefs: Defensive trade targets, Part One

Jalen Ramsey, Cornerback

Over on Fasided’s NFL site, writer Kelly Thompson posits the Kansas City Chiefs sending the team’s first-round pick, No. 29, to the Jaguars for 24-year-old Jalen Ramsey, who will be entering his fourth year in the league after getting selected with the fifth overall pick by Jacksonville back in 2016.

Ramsey, befitting a top-five pick, has started all 48 games for the Jaguars since getting drafted. In that time, he’s picked off nine passes (taking one back for a touchdown) while racking up 193 total tackles. He’s also defended 44 passes. According to Pro Football Focus, in 2018, Ramsey ranked 28th among cornerbacks with a grade of 72.8.

As currently structured, the Chiefs would be able to fit Ramsey’s contract into the fold for 2019. But Jacksonville has picked up its fifth-year option on the former Florida State Seminole, so if the Chiefs swing this deal, an extension to lower Ramsey’s 2020 number would be essential.

But as Thompson writes, “With looming extensions required in Kansas City, (the Chiefs) have to save cap space to get those deals done.” Plus: is receiving just a late first-rounder enough for a Jaguars team looking to rebound from a massively disappointing 2019 season after reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2018?

Probably not. More picks would be required. Thankfully, Kansas City general manager Brett Veach is an aggressive executive, so don’t entirely rule out this move.

Haason Reddick, Outside Linebacker

The number 13 pick out of Temple in 2017, Haason Reddick graded out merely as average in 2018, according to PFF, and yet he did a little bit of everything last season in his 12 starts. He collected 80 total tackles while defending five passes, forcing a fumble, hitting the quarterback six times, and recording four sacks. He has two very cheap years left on his contract with a fifth-year option still available.

Right now, the Chiefs lack sufficient outside linebackers. According to Spotrac, the team has just two: recent free agent acquisitions Damien Wilson and Jeremiah Attaochu. Not exactly an inspiring duo. Reddick would not only be an upgrade over the both of them, but the 24-year-old also holds more upside.

As far as what it would take to land Reddick: perhaps not much. The Cardinals appear to be hitting the re-set button for the second time in as many offseasons. Arizona is on their third head coach in as many seasons, and looks to be drafting a quarterback in the first round for the second time in two seasons. Maybe a full-on rebuild is on the horizon.

Reddick for pick number 92? Worth a shot.