JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 19: Cornerback Jalen Ramsey #20 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks to the Tennessee Titans bench in the first quarter at TIAA Bank Field on September 19, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images)
The Rams are only 3-3 after six games, but that isn’t stopping them from going all-in with a massive trade with the Jaguars for Jalen Ramsey.
When Marcus Peters was dealt from the Rams to the Ravens it was pretty obvious another move was coming for Los Angeles. As it turns out, it was a massive transaction. Dealing for Jalen Ramsey is the sort of move a franchise makes when they want to become legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Ramsey certainly didn’t come cheap. The Rams give up first round picks in 2020 and 2021 as well as a fourth round pick in 2021 to acquire the dynamic defensive back. Those moves will severely limit the sort of talent Los Angeles can acquire in the future. Make no mistake about it, this was a deal that is all about now for the Rams.
There’s zero doubt that adding Ramsey to the secondary is going to be a plus for Sean McVay’s defense. The Rams defense currently rank 11th overall in defensive DVOA per Football Outsiders. Their pass defense, however, sits all the way back in the 20th spot. Upgrading the secondary was a clear need for the franchise.
There is also no doubt that Ramsey is a far better player than Peters. This serves as a big upgrade at one of the most important positions in the NFL. If the Rams want to close the gap in the NFC West on the 49ers and Seahawks they need a cornerback capable of locking down No. 1 wide receivers in single coverage. Los Angeles’ ability to play single coverage on one side of the field with Ramsey is going to make their pass rush even more ferocious. That’s a frightening thought for offensive coordinators who already wake up at night thinking about Aaron Donald.
The upgrade at cornerback still may not be enough to get the Rams back in the mix for a Super Bowl this season. They have already fallen 2.5 games behind the 49ers and they’re even two games behind the Seahawks for second place in the division. That’s a big gap for the team to make up with just 10 games left in the regular season.
Trading for Ramsey also doesn’t do anything to fix the Rams’ biggest problem. Jared Goff still needs more protection if he is going to execute McVay’s offense at a high level. Unless Ramsey has a hidden talent as a pass blocker that he hasn’t shown during his NFL career, Los Angeles will still struggle to keep edge rushers away from Goff.
The Rams successfully upgraded their secondary today by effectively swapping Peters for Ramsey in their starting lineup. This isn’t a move that’s going to magically make them the favorites in the NFC West though. McVay and the Rams have made a short-term move that may not actually get them any short-term gains. It’s an expensive move that might prove to be more trouble than it’s worth for Los Angeles.