As the Los Angeles Rams head into a rebuild more than a year removed from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, top cornerback Jalen Ramsey is generating trade interest from across the NFL.
The Rams released All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, allowing the linebacker to sign with a team that will contend in 2023. With the front office and head coach Sean McVay committed to rebuilding the roster, other Rams’ stars are likely on the way out.
- Jalen Ramsey contract: $25.2 million cap hit (2023), $26.7 million cap hit (2024)
Ramsey will likely be one of the first to go. A three-time first-team All-Pro, the 28-year-old cornerback is reportedly seeking a new contract. With Los Angeles uninterested in making him one of the highest-paid NFL players, a trade becomes inevitable.
Related: Jalen Ramsey contract reportedly must be extended after trade
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler appeared on SportsCenter, naming the Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders as two teams to monitor for Ramsey. The All-Pro cornerback is expected to have a ‘solid’ amount of interest.
Los Angeles already started fielding calls from interested teams and the expectation remains that he’ll be dealt by the 2023 NFL Draft. While trading Ramsey won’t provide the Rams with immediate cap relief, it will provide much-needed draft picks and more than $20 million in cap savings for 2024.
- Jalen Ramsey stats: 18 pass deflections, four interceptions
Related: Los Angeles Rams shopping Jalen Ramsey
More than three years after Los Angeles traded two first-round picks and a fourth-round selection to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Ramsey, it’s expected to receive less in return this offseason.
While Ramsey was graded as the third-best cornerback in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, rating as PFF’s 37th-best player in 2022, he isn’t a true shutdown cornerback. The 6-foot-1 defensive back surrendered a 98.6 passer rating in coverage when targeted this past year, allowing 712 receiving yards on 56 receptions with seven touchdowns.
Related: Ideal Jalen Ramsey trade landing spots
However, the 2023 NFL Draft class isn’t especially deep with high-end cornerback prospects and it’s not a position of strength among the top NFL free agents. As a result, even with Ramsey’s contract demands, the Rams should receive a strong return to kick off their rebuild.