Superstar Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey was suddenly traded to the Miami Dolphins on March 12, 2023. In return, the Dolphins are sending the 77th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and tight end Hunter Long to the Rams.
In late February, with free agency approaching, the Rams had made it clear to the NFL world that they viewed Jalen Ramsey as a possible "cap casualty" and placed him on the trading block. Ramsey, 28 years old and a former All-Pro cornerback, is due $17 million in the 2023 season, as reported on Twitter by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. With a deal involving Ramsey, the Rams looked to clear upward of nearly $20 million of dead money, and allow the Rams more cap space for the free agency period as the new league year begins. These rumors also led to the possibility the superstar would have been cut by the Rams.
Ramsey still has three years remaining on his contract, and the Dolphins are guaranteeing the next two seasons of his contract, according to ESPN.
Ramsey is coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2022, with a career-high-tying 4 interceptions, as well as 2 forced fumbles, 2 sacks, and 88 combined tackles. While the Super Bowl LVI champion Rams finished 2022 with a disappointing 5-12 record, Ramsey still had a fantastic year, despite fans stating it was his "down year". Some people also pointed out Ramsey's total completion percentage of receivers he was guarding to be 65% in 2022, compared to only 60% in 2021, as well as allowing seven touchdowns.
For the Rams, this trade seems mainly like a disappointment. While it does clear up space, this will be the third major defensive player the Rams will lose this offseason, the other two being linebacker Bobby Wagner and pass rusher Leonard Floyd, both previously released. Rams general manager Les Snead had "correctly realized that their lack of depth brutalized any hopes of staying afloat after injuries to all three of the team's pillars last season," according to CBS Sports, and this is a major reason as why they picked up a backup tight end and a third-round draft pick. The trade on paper looks majorly disappointing and almost infuriating for Rams fans, as they seemed to have given up their superstar cornerback and generational talent in their secondary for, what seems like, a lackluster return.
The Dolphins won this trade by a landslide, most NFL fans believe. After news came out about the Dolphins releasing cornerback Byron Jones, the team needed to find help in the secondary this offseason to back up Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard. Along with young 23-year-old Jevon Holland, Garrett Podell of CBS Sports believes Miami now has "one of the best defensive backfields in the entire NFL."
The trade is another excellent move made by Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, a year after trading for one of the league's best wide receivers in Tyreek Hill, as well as their acquiring of star linebacker Bradley Chubb from the Broncos in November 2022. The Dolphins also had made "multiple salary cap-clearing moves over the past week, restructuring the contracts of Hill, Chubb and Terron Armstead," per ESPN. Needless to be said, the Miami Dolphins are a team that should be taken seriously in 2023.
As for the Rams, their "all-in" approach to their Super Bowl run two seasons ago has definitely backfired on them, though this deal will clear cap space for them. As stated before, the Rams have now lost three key defensive players this offseason so far, as well as a trade for receiver Allen Robinson II seems inevitable. The stars that had shone brightly for Los Angeles a season ago seemed to have faded out.
Ramsey has had an incredible track record in the NFL through 7 seasons, making the Pro Bowl in every season besides his rookie year in 2016. In his career, he has 19 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, and 375 solo tackles. At only 28, Ramsey has definitely shown no signs of stopping. He is also a three-time First Team NFL All-Pro, in 2017, 2020, and 2021, and has one Super Bowl title under his belt.
This isn't the first time Ramsey has been traded in his career. As a young, rising star in 2019 on the Jacksonville Jaguars at the time, Ramsey was traded to the Rams for 2 first-round picks and a fourth-rounder.
Ramsey has already expressed joy in reaction to the news that he is now a Miami Dolphin:
댓글