LA Rams: Jalen Ramsey will rebound for a breakout season

Jalen Ramsey proves why the LA Rams paid 2 1sts for him

LA Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey is looking for a hefty pay raise in March. While you may have heard his name for years, he is still playing out the last year of his rookie contract in 2020. After a disappointing 2019 season, Ramsey will re-establish himself among the NFL’s elite corners this season.

Ramsey was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the fifth overall selection of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was a star from day one as the Jaguars shut down corner. As contract extension time came, he and Jacksonville decided to part ways.

Jacksonville got three draft picks for Ramsey from LA. The deal came before the trade deadline in October. Now, he will show that he is worth the expensive price.

FSU legacy

Ramsey plays very similar to fellow Florida State alum cornerback Deion Sanders. He has the size and speed to physically manhandle opposing receivers. He definitely backs up his talk with his cover skills, just ask wide receiver AJ Green or Steve Smith.

You can expect Ramsey to rebound this season. He will want to earn a big new deal in March and he will want to re-join the elite level as a cover corner.The Rams will need him early in the season.

The Rams’ first four games will be his proving ground. The Dallas Cowboys comes to town in week one as a difficult test for a marquee matchup. The next two games are on the road facing both the  Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills. The New York Giants travel to Los Angeles for week 4.

Four matchups Jalen Ramsey must-win for the LA Rams to win early season games

Earning a shut-down corner reputation is not something sportswriters hand out. That type of designation must be earned, and the Rams’ first four contests will certainly give Jalen Ramsey that opportunity.  First, Ramsey must corral Cowboys’ wide receiver Amari Cooper in the Dallas game. Cooper caught 79 passes for 1189 yards in 2019 to average 15.1 yards per catch. Ramsey will shut him down early and often.

Second, Ramsey might be covering TE Zach Ertz. This matchup may be very physical and not much brotherly in Philadelphia. Ramsey will have to watch out for pick routes on underneath routes.

Third, Ramsey will face John Brown in Buffalo. Brown caught 72 passes for 1060 yards with six touchdowns. Brown is not as dangerous as Cooper but a good receiver.

Fourth, Ramsey gets to tangle with Sterling Shepard at home in week 4. Shepard should be the easiest of the four to shutdown. Ramsey has the size to roughhouse Shepard for all four quarters.

Rams fans will see an elite corner emerge in 2020. Ramsey has the skill set and the motivation to earn a big new deal. Most of all, when push comes to shove, he will get to break the bank. Let’s see how it all plays out.