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NFL.com: Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are the top cornerback tandem in the league

Jacksonville Jaguars v Houston Texans Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a big splash in free agency this past offseason by signing cornerback A.J. Bouye, who was among the most highly-touted players on the market after a breakout 2016 season in Houston.

Pairing him opposite of rising star Jalen Ramsey, who had a stellar rookie season in his own right, has caught the attention of many, including NFL.com media analyst, Ike Taylor.

Taylor, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to play the cornerback position in the NFL (playing 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers), listed Bouye and Ramsey as the No. 1 cornerback tandem in the NFL headed into the 2017 season.

Taylor ranked Jacksonville’s dynamic duo ahead of the likes of Denver’s Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr., New England’s Malcolm Butler and Stephen Gilmore, and well, every other cornerback tandem in the league, obviously.

Here is what Taylor had to say about Jacksonville’s starting cornerback tandem:

A lot of people are going to disagree with me here, but it won't be the first time or the last.

Jalen Ramsey is coming off an impressive rookie campaign that landed him among my top 10 cornerbacks. In coverage, Ramsey allowed 48 catches on 90 targets for 703 yards, two TDs, two INTs and a 68.0 passer rating against. He adjusted to the learning curve of playing in the NFL and balled out in the final stretch of the 2016 season, recording 13 passes defensed and two INTs from Week 13 through Week 17 after only having one pass defensed and no picks total until that point. The defensive staff trusted and allowed Ramsey to cover the opponent's best receiver, and he obliged like a champ. We should see the same this year. His play is going to demand more attention in Year 2.

A.J. Bouye's monster year for the Texans' top-ranked defense helped him land a five-year, $67.5 million deal with the Jags. The 6-foot, 191-pound cornerback allowed a 60.6 passer rating against and racked up 16 passes defensed in his fourth NFL season. Bouye has speed, is consistently close to the receiver and puts himself in good position to make a play on the ball. I'm not saying he's going to lead the league in interceptions -- mainly because the Jags play man coverage -- but Bouye will have plenty of opportunities to come down with the ball if and when they do play zone.

You can read the full article, which published yesterday, here.

My biggest fear when it comes to the Bouye hype is that he was a one-year wonder, and now that he got a big pay day, he’ll fizzle out, like we have seen happen to so many big name free agents (Julius Thomas, anybody?). However, it is evident Bouye possesses all of the necessary tools and abilities to be successful with any team.

Do you think Jacksonville has the best cornerback tandem in the league? Let us know by voting in the poll below, and if not, provide your answers in the comment section.

Poll

Is A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey the best cornerback tandem in the league?

This poll is closed

  • 70%
    Yes
    (450 votes)
  • 29%
    No
    (184 votes)
634 votes total Vote Now