The All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey gets sent to South Beach in exchange for a third-round pick and a tight end
LOS ANGELES, Calif.– In today’s rendition of mega trades that could potentially shake up the future of the NFL, the Los Angeles Rams and the Miami Dolphins have agreed on a deal that would send superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey to Miami in exchange for a third-round pick this year and tight end Hunter Long.
This comes after around a week of speculation that Ramsey would be traded as an effort to clear up a major chunk of cap space. The Rams have been upside-down in the cap sector after investing a lot of money for big-name players in order to win Super Bowl LVII.
Jalen Ramsey’s contract was fully guaranteed, meaning the Dolphins are obligated to pick it up for the next two years. The Rams are estimated to have saved around $5.6 million of cap space while still incurring $19.6 million against the cap in dead cap in 2023 due to his trade being before June 1st. All-in-all this proves a rebuild brewing in LA, as the team has been giddy to get rid of some of their superstars including dealing wide receiver Robert Woods to the Texans.
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The Rams have also parted ways with defensive studs like Bobby Wagner and Leonard Floyd, presumably in search of cheaper, younger options.
LA made a big splash in the trade market in 2019 trading for Ramsey, in a deal that sent first-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021 and a fourth-rounder in 2021 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team subsequently signed the Florida State product to a massive 5-year, $105 million extension which proved to propel the defensive back market into the stratosphere. Jalen Ramsey acquired a AAV of $20 million per year, making him one of the highest paid corners yet.
Jalen Ramsey seemed eccentric to go to Miami, with a tweet celebrating his new team and the opportunity to relocate. The corner also later posted a gif showing off how excited he was for his new team.
Los Angeles on the other hand, was simply eager to get Ramsey off their books, selling him at a goodwill price. Most analysts predicted that Ramsey would demand at least a 1st-2nd round pick, yet the Dolphins got away with sending a third-rounder along with a backup tight end. Hunter Long posted one catch for eight yards. A 2021 third-round selection out of Boston College, Long hasn’t been much of an impact in the NFL and will look to situate himself behind Tyler Higbee with an expanded role.
The Dolphins will pair Jalen Ramsey alongside Xavien Howard, another top cornerback in the NFL with combined plethora of awards between the two. Earlier in the month, the ‘Fins released CB Byron Jones, which prompted a need at the secondary position. To make room for Ramsey’s massive contract burden, the team did a fair amount of housekeeping, including restructuring the contracts of some of their bigger cap-heavy players including 2022 acquiree Tyreek Hill.
Miami will look to make it back to the playoffs after an up and down 2022 season which consisted of red-hot streaks but ultimately lost to the Buffalo Bills without their starting quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa. The Rams will now attempt somewhat of a rebuild on defense but maintains their somewhat staunch stature on offense with Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp returning after injuries kept them sidelined nearly the entire season.
