Trading Aqib Talib before deadline sounds like long shot for Rams

Even though the Los Angeles Rams are open to trading Aqib Talib, this seems easier said than done before the deadline.

One the Los Angeles Rams made the surprise move of acquiring Jalen Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars, there was plenty of excitement surrounding the new potential duo at cornerback alongside Aqib Talib.

While Ramsey has been considered to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL since joining the league in 2016, Talib has been part of this conversation for most of his career as well, and is fortunate to have a Super Bowl ring to help show for it.

Even if Los Angeles knew they would need to be patient to see this new potential duo in action after Talib was placed on IR this month due to a rib injury, the wait seemed worth it in the long run.

With that being said, some Rams fans were caught with a surprise this weekend when reports emerged that Los Angeles was open to trading Talib before Tuesday’s deadline to help clear up money for a potential future deal with Ramsey.

What was even more surprising to hear from the ESPN report was how Talib reportedly turned down a potential trade offer last week, making it seem like the Rams will continue to explore the possibility as the clock winds down on Tuesday.

Entering the 2019 season, there was plenty of speculation that Los Angeles could easily move on from the veteran cornerback next offseason since Talib is currently in the final year of his contract, and there are plenty of younger players that seem like they will be ready for larger roles by then.

However, as far as whether the Rams will be able to find a trade partner for Talib before the deadline, well this is where it obviously gets tricky.

For starters, any team that expresses interest in Talib will need to be open to being patient since the veteran is currently on IR, and won’t be able to return until later in the year, which could obviously benefit a legitimate playoff contender.

Still, any team that would be interested in Talib knows the tough situation Los Angeles finds themselves in trying to clear up potential cap space in order to pave the way for Ramsey, meaning suitors could use this to their advantage as well.

Maybe before Talib’s injury, this would be much easier for the Rams to pull off since there’s a reason why he’s had such a strong reputation for being one of the best at the position throughout his career.

But since there are numerous factors working against Los Angeles in this scenario, it’s safe to assume that Talib will most likely still be on the roster once Tuesday’s deadline passes.

And if this turns out to be the case, this also means any potential deal for Ramsey will most likely need to wait a bit as well.