Championship windows do not last long in the NFL. After winning the Super Bowl in 2021, the Los Angeles Rams are officially embracing the rebuild. They recently parted ways with Bobby Wagner, and recent reports indicate that the team may look to trade Jalen Ramsey in the coming weeks.
Ramsey, a former three-time All-Pro, is entering his age-29 season but can still play at a high level. The former first-round pick finished the 2022 season as PFF’s third-best cornerback, and while he has lost some speed, his intelligence allows him to remain one of the better cornerbacks in football. Additionally, as he ages, Ramsey should be able to move over to free safety, similar to Charles Woodson back in the day. All of this is to say that the cornerback still has plenty to offer, and several teams should be interested in orchestrating a trade.
Top 5 Jalen Ramsey Trade Landing Spots, Ranked
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have a strong roster, but they have one major weakness on the defensive side of the ball. With Marcus Peters set to hit free agency, the Ravens need to find another starting-caliber cornerback. Elite coverage players have never been more important in today’s NFL, especially when the Ravens share a division with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Amari Cooper, Diontae Johnson, and George Pickens.
If the Ravens keep Lamar Jackson, then Ramsey makes sense as the final piece on a championship-caliber roster. If, however, the Ravens trade Lamar Jackson, then Baltimore will receive a boatload of picks and probably wouldn’t mind shipping one of said picks for a player of Ramsey’s caliber. No matter what happens with Baltimore’s franchise quarterback, a Jalen Ramsey trade makes sense for the team.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals will never have a better chance to win the Super Bowl than they do right now. While this team will always be contenders as long as Joe Burrow is under center, the stars are aligning for the 2023 season. Burrow is still on his rookie contract, and the elite wide receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will be back for at least one more season. After coming within inches of a title in each of the past two seasons, the Bengals need to make an aggressive move to send them over the top, and trading for Jalen Ramsey might be enough to make them the best team in the AFC.
3. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have a strong defense, but the lone weakness is at cornerback. Micah Parsons is an absolute force of nature up front, but his impact is minimized if the opposing quarterback can get the ball out in under two seconds. Adding Ramsey to the secondary would help eliminate these quick passes, which would only allow Parsons and that ferocious front seven to wreak even more havoc on the opposing quarterback.
Cowboys Told Jalen Ramsey They'd Draft Him
“I always grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan. So if I go 4 that's like for real dream come true. When I was on my visit to Dallas, they told me straight up to my face, 'If you're there at 4, we're taking you.’”
{🎥 via The Pivot Podcast} pic.twitter.com/TYkqDusjgv
— Andre’ Jackson (@therealdre_jack) February 25, 2023
4. Detroit Lions
The 2022 Detroit Lions went 9-8 and just missed the playoffs even though they had one of the worst defenses in football. Jared Goff played at a high level, and Amon-Ra St. Brown is quietly establishing himself as one of the best young receivers in football. With offensive coordinator Brian Johnson coming back for another season, the Lions offense has the potential to keep up with just about anyone. Bringing in Jalen Ramsey wouldn’t magically transform this defense into the 1985 Chicago Bears, but it would turn the unit from terrible to average. With how good the offense is, that might just be good enough to secure a division crown in 2023.
5. Miami Dolphins
From the sounds of it, it sure doesn’t look like Byron Jones will be back on the field any time soon. Xavien Howard had a rough season last year, so there is a very real chance that the Dolphins could look to upgrade both cornerback positions in 2023. The team already proved that they’re all-in following the Tyreek Hill trade, and who knows how far they could’ve gone in 2022 had Tua Tagovailoa stayed healthy. Adding Jalen Ramsey would address arguably the biggest need on the roster and would be huge in slowing down Stefon Diggs and the division-favorite Buffalo Bills.
Much has changed in 8 years. Today I can’t run or jump because of my injuries sustained playing this game. DO NOT take the pills they give you. DO NOT take the injections they give you. If you absolutely must, consult an outside doctor to learn the long-term implications. https://t.co/g5TTHDQGSY
— Byron Jones (@TheByronJones) February 25, 2023
Main Photo: Joe Nicholson – USA Today Sports
