Now that the NFL Draft is in the rearview, all eyes are on what will happen at rookie minicamp this month and OTAs later in the summer. It all culminates with the final roster trim down in August, one that will be harder than usual for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs already have a ton of talent on the roster, but the team is still being pegged as one that isn’t done making moves. NFL.com’s Nick Shook listed off a handful of trade destinations for Ramsey and once again listed Tampa Bay as a top spot.
It’s not just that the Bucs were listed as a potential landing spot for Ramsey — this is nothing particularly new or interesting. The fact that a position change has been floated in this hypothetical is what helps it not only stand out but feel like a move that makes even more sense than it already did.
“It's fair to say the Bucs could probably use more help at safety than at corner, and considering Ramsey has previously expressed interest in making that position transition, Tampa might be the perfect place for him to find a valued role with a contender,” Shook wrote.
To quote Captain Jack Sparrow: That’s interesting.
Buccaneers adding Jalen Ramsey, but with a twist, could be a game-changing move
Cornerback is still a position of need for the Bucs, but measures were taken during the draft to make sure an influx of talent is there to help. Doubling up on rookie corners on Day 2 by taking Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish should go a long way in replenishing some depth, and the Zyon McCollum/Jamel Dean combo is expected to work even better than it did last year.
Ramsey had a down year in Miami but he’s still a five-time Pro Bowler with a ton of upside. A secondary-needy team like Tampa Bay would be insane to not at least entertain the idea of bringing him in, especially if a shift to safety is on the table.
The Bucs are still incredibly thin at safety, with only Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, and Christian Izien looking like reliable options. Shilo Sanders has an inside track on making the final roster because of this, but getting Ramsey to help in a dual role with the emphasis on safety could be a game changer.
He’d join a roster that is already on the cusp of being a Super Bowl contender and might be a missing piece that helps take it over the top. Being that it’s after the draft, the premium Tampa Bay might’ve had to pay a week ago isn’t there, and Miami has less leverage in talks with everyone knowing they want to move off Ramsey’s deal.
It’s still a long shot, but the pieces are there more than most think for Ramsey to end up in Tampa Bay before the season starts.
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