An NFL assistant coach was presented a scenario: A Jaguars secondary anchored by Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye playing the outside cornerback positions.

"That would be lethal," the coach said.

And lethal in a good way … for opposing offenses.

Just that bit of analysis alone should make Bouye a top priority for the Jaguars’ new power structure. They oversee a roster that needs play-makers.

The Jaguars feel Ramsey is a No. 1 corner, but do they have the fortitude to dive into the deep-money waters to steal Bouye from the Houston Texans?

The free agent negotiating period opens March 7, followed by the signing season March 9 at 4 p.m. But feelers will be put out during the Scouting Combine later this month in Indianapolis.

Pursuing Bouye is a moot point if the Jaguars believe Prince Amukamara should be their No. 2 corner and re-sign him, creating a Ramsey-Amukamara-Aaron Colvin combination at the top of the depth chart.

The intriguing cornerback class includes Bouye, Amukamara, Buffalo’s Stephon Gilmore, Dallas’ Morris Claiborne and the Rams’ Trumaine Johnson. The assistant coach ranked Bouye ahead of Amukamara.

"But I like Prince over somebody like Gilmore — it looked like Prince got better this year," the coach said.

Bouye had one regular season interception, but his 16 pass break-ups were tied for ninth in the NFL.

"A.J. has very good instincts and ball skills," the assistant coach said. "He can lock down the second receiver and hold his own against the top guys."

Why would a Ramsey/Bouye combination be so "lethal"?

"Neither one would require roll coverage," the assistant coach said. "Going into the game, you feel good about your top two cover guys and their match-ups. This would allow the defense to send safety blitzes or different rush packages with the ends and linebackers. The man and zone blitzes could be endless."

The Jaguars used strong safety Johnathan Cyprien on 16 blitzes and free safety Tashaun Gipson on only four blitzes — their go-to pressure from the secondary was rushing Colvin from the slot.

Bouye faced the Jaguars once in 2016 — he missed the Week 10 game with an ankle injury and started in Week 15.

The Jaguars figured Bouye would travel with Allen Robinson and a source said they, "expected him to get some help over the top and be physical. When he had help, he would be way more aggressive at the line of scrimmage."

Against the Jaguars, Bouye played all 59 snaps and was a "factor" on nine plays, not including two penalties while covering Robinson. He lined up at right cornerback 30-plus times and left cornerback on about a dozen snaps. Our notes: Slipped on a comeback route to allow an 11-yard pass to Bryan Walters on third-and-9. … Was called for a 31-yard interference penalty against Robinson on a third-and-7. … Moves with good fluidity regardless of the technique (back-pedal, trail or press). … Not afraid to play the run — was unblocked and took on Chris Ivory one-on-one to slow him down for the Texans’ pursuit. … He didn’t travel exclusively with Robinson.

A month later, in an AFC second-round game at New England, Bouye’s role changed.

Bouye played all 69 snaps against the Patriots ("factor" on 11 plays) and moved around the field (not including kneel-downs and goal-line snaps) — 52 snaps at right corner and only 1 at left corner, but he moved inside over the left slot receiver for 10 snaps (chiefly against Julian Edelman or Danny Amendola). Our notes: Allowed completions of 22, seven, 14 and nine yards but also had an interception. … Showed good awareness against double moves. … Should have had a second pick when he jumped Michael Floyd’s quick slant but dropped Tom Brady’s pass. … Was called for a 30-yard interference penalty on Chris Hogan but didn’t need to – he was running stride by stride with Hogan. … Missed a tackle on a quick pass to Floyd.

After the season, Texans coach Bill O’Brien told reporters of Bouye: "I would tell you that just in talking to people around the league that I really trust, I think he’s viewed as a top corner. We really want him back and hopefully we can get something done where we he can be back, but it’s tough."

Tough because the Texans have more than $17 million in salary cap space committed to Kareem Jackson, Johnathan Joseph and Kevin Johnson. Football Budgeting 101 suggests there isn’t room to also pay Bouye if they intend to keep the other three players.

The Jaguars’ best case is Bouye tells his representative he will go the highest bidder, probably like tight end Julius Thomas and defensive tackle Malik Jackson did the last two off-seasons. If Bouye is looking for a chance to win right away, this isn’t the place — remember that 3-13 record? The Jaguars will proclaim they are an attractive destination … and they are as long as they pay a significant Stink Tax — they’ve been so bad for so long, they have to up their contract offer to lure a player like Bouye.

Helping Bouye’s market value is that he’s not a one-year wonder. In the last three years, he’s played all but four games, totaling six interceptions and 32 pass break-ups. Bouye has 19 career penalties.

The Jaguars have options at No. 2 cornerback. They can stand pat by re-signing the effective Amukamara before the market opens or they can go younger (by two years) by landing Bouye.