Three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey will now call another NFL city home in 2023 and for years to come.
After weeks of speculation that one of the game’s best defenders could be moved by the Los Angeles Rams, it has officially happened.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Los Angeles has dealt away the 28-year-old Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a third-round selection (77th overall) and tight end Hunter Long. The deal also includes Ramsey getting his contract for 2023 and 2024 fully guaranteed.
This represents the first big blockbuster trade of the young NFL offseason, with more surely on the way. For the Rams, it’s also a continuation of the team moving off star power as a way to become solvent under the 2023 NFL salary cap. Remember, it was earlier in the offseason that Los Angeles released nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner in another cost-cutting move.
Los Angeles headed into the 2022 NFL season with expectations to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Injuries and a top-heavy roster led to a disastrous five-win campaign. The Rams’ win-now mentality under general manager Les Snead is now coming home to roost.
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Impact of the Jalen Ramsey trade to Miami Dolphins
At 28-years-old, Ramsey is still among the best cover guys in the NFL. He’s also in the back end of his prime, which will help the Dolphins in the short-term. Despite a bit of a regression a season ago, the former top-five pick from Florida State will slot in as Miami’s No. 1 cornerback.
He’s proven capable in this role for the past several years dating back to the defensive back’s days with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
| Year | Tackles | Passes defended | INT | Comp % | QB rating |
| 2018 | 65 | 13 | 3 | 54.0 | 76.4 |
| 2019 | 50 | 5 | 1 | 66.2 | 89.6 |
| 2020 | 44 | 9 | 1 | 50.7 | 68.6 |
| 2021 | 77 | 16 | 4 | 59.2 | 71.1 |
| 2022 | 88 | 18 | 4 | 62.6 | 84.5 |
As for a fit with the Dolphins, Ramsey will now team up with Xavien Howard for the Super Bowl contenders. While it does come at a cost from both a draft pick and financial standpoint, this win-now move will help head coach Mike McDaniel trot out one of the better secondaries in the NFL next season.
Circling back to Los Angeles for a second, the team has not picked in the first round of the NFL Draft since it traded up for Jared Goff in 2016.
Its first rounder this year is in the hands of the Detroit Lions stemming from the Matthew Stafford blockbuster back in 2021. Adding more draft capital to the mix was a necessity if the team were to move off Jalen Ramsey. Now that this has happened, the Rams are looking to change up their MO a tad while actually attempting to build depth via the NFL Draft.