The Rams’ decision to trade star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday marked the end of an era.
It’s not long. Just 3 and a half years.
But the 2019 midseason trade that brought Ramsey to Los Angeles for two first-round picks from the Jacksonville Jaguars set the construction of the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI championship team in motion and their entire mentality.
Now, with the Rams coming off a disastrous 2022 season and their boom-or-bust philosophy bills coming, Ramsey becomes the latest high-priced veteran to step up as the Rams work to get under the NFL’s $224.8 million Meanwhile. salary limit The Rams released Bobby Wagner three weeks ago and Leonard Floyd last week. And wide receiver Allen Robinson could be next.
In exchange for Ramsey, the Rams will receive a 2023 third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long, a person familiar with the situation said.
The person requested anonymity because the deal won’t be official until Wednesday, the start of the NFL’s new league year.
The trade didn’t surprise Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro. After the season, he stated several times on social media that he was aware that he could face it.
“I prayed about it for about a month and now it’s happening!” Ramsey tweeted on Sunday. “@MiamiDolphins GO!”
I specifically prayed about this for about a month and now it’s happening! 🙏🏾@MiamiDolphins GO! 🧡
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) March 12, 2023
Last week, Rams general manager Les Snead said the team’s “DNA” was to “attack, hit the gas.”
That was evident in 2016 when the Rams sent two first-round picks to the Tennessee Titans to move up 14 spots with the No. 1 pick for quarterback Jared Goff. It continued in 2018 when they made several headline moves to build a team that reached Super Bowl LIII. They traded for Ramsey in 2019, then sent Goff and two first-round picks to the Detroit Lions in 2021 for quarterback Matthew Stafford and later traded for tight end Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr.
But after last season’s 5-12 finish, and with the need to build draft capital, “we want to hit the brakes a little bit,” Snead said.
The Rams now have 11 picks in the NFL draft April 27-29 in Kansas City, Mo., including one in the second round, two in the third, three in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey is introduced before the 2022 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Long, 24, was the Dolphins’ third-round pick in 2021. Last season, he played nine games, but didn’t have a goal. He joins a tight group of eighth-year seniors Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins.
Ramsey’s departure leaves the Rams with another big hole on defense and in the starting lineup.
Ramsey, 28, joined defensive lineman Aaron Donald, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and eventually Stafford as the core of a Rams team that finished the 2021 season fulfilling owner Stan Kroenke’s mandate to win the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium.
In 2020, Ramsey signed a five-year, $100 million extension that included $71.2 million in guarantees, the largest defensive contract in NFL history at the time. According to Overthecap.com, he would have a salary cap hit of $25.2 million next season.
Over three seasons with the Rams, Ramsey caught 10 passes, including two against the Seattle Seahawks in last season’s finale. He also made several plays to get the win.
In 2020, under then-defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, Ramsey’s role expanded beyond shutdown cornerback. He played outside and inside and also worked as a safety, hybrid linebacker and pass rusher.
Raheem Morris, who replaced Staley, continued to use Ramsey in various positions over the past two seasons. Ramsey was beaten a few times in 2022, but is still considered one of the NFL’s elite players and now joins a Dolphins defense that includes cornerback Xavien Howard and wide receiver Bradley Chubb.
Ramsey on his way to Miami, and Troy Hill and David Long Jr. With cornerbacks unrestricted free agents, the Rams can rely on second-year corners Decobie Durant and cornerback Derion Kendrick. They will also look to add depth through free agency and the draft.