The Rams have agreed to sell star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins in an important move to recover from a disastrous 2022 season and build up cash, a person with knowledge of the situation said Sunday.
The individual asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about a deal that will not become official until the NFL’s new league year begins Wednesday.
In exchange for Ramsey, the Rams get a tight Hunter long and a third-round pick in the upcoming draft. The Rams now have 11 picks in the draft, though they haven’t had a first-round pick since 2016, when they traded a record 14 spots to pick quarterback Jared Goff with the first pick.
The trade came as no surprise to Ramsey, the fifth player selected in the 2016 draft. After the season, he hinted several times on social media that he knew he might be traded.
“I’ve been praying specifically for this for about a month and now it’s here,” Ramsey tweeted. “@MiamiDolphins LETSGO!”
Ramsey was acquired by the Rams midway through the 2019 season in a trade that sent two first-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The three-time All-Pro was a cornerstone for a Rams team that won Super Bowl LVI to close out the 2021 season.
In 2020, Ramsey signed a five-year, $100 million extension that included $71.2 million in guarantees, then the largest defensive back contract in NFL history.
Ramsey, 28, will hit a $25.2 million salary cap next season, according to overthecap.com.
The limit for the 2023 season is $224.8 million. According to overthecap.com, the Rams were about $15 million over the cap on Feb. 21.
The Ramsey trade is the Rams’ third move to bring in a star player since they finished 5-12, the worst postseason performance by a Super Bowl champion in NFL history.
On February 23, the Rams and linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to part ways after one season. Last week, the Rams fired edge rusher Leonard Floyd.
In more than three seasons with the Rams, Ramsey has intercepted 10 passes, including two in last season’s Finals against the Seattle Seahawks. He also played several wins.
In 2020, Ramsey’s role with the Rams expanded beyond the shutdown cornerback under then-defense coordinator Brandon Staley. He played on the outside and inside, and he also played as a safety, hybrid linebacker, and pass rusher.
Raheem Morris, who replaced Staley, continued to use Ramsey in various positions.
Ramsey’s departure leaves a huge void in high school for the Rams. Cornerbacks Troy Hill and David Long Jr. and safeties Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott are pending free agents.
Source: LA Times
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