Rams must target Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey trade after biggest draft failure

Why trading for Jalen Ramsey makes perfect sense

The Los Angeles Rams have 10 cornerbacks on the roster. In terms of numbers, that is more than enough players. But, in terms of starting caliber talent, there are significant questions among the group. And significant questions are not what you want to see after an NFL projected contender has emerged from the NFL Free Agency market, the NFL Draft, and the post-draft signing spree of collegiate free agents.

Of the Rams current cornerbacks, let's review their height and weight (starters in bold):

• Cobie Durant- 5-foot-11 | 182 pounds
• Emmanuel Forbes - 6-foot-0 | 180 pounds
• Derion Kendrick - 6-foot-0 | 199 pounds
• Josh Wallace - 6-foot-0 | 189 pounds
• Darious Williams - 5-foot-9 | 192 pounds
• Ahkello Witherspoon - 6-foot-2 | 195 pounds
• Shaun Jolly - 5-foot-9 |186 pounds
• Cam Lampkin - 5-foot-11 | 176 pounds
• Charles Woods - 5-foot-11 | 186
• A.J. Green - 6-foot-2 | 198 pounds

Jalen Ramsey stands 6-foot-1, weighs 208 pounds, and is as physical as a linebacker. That physicality is seldom discussed, but having benefited from Ramsey's ability to play the run, shed blockers, and plug the edge, it is one of his best contributions to the defense. And with his Velcro-like coverage skills, that says quite a bit. And the Rams know that they must up their run defense to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ramsey is more than a tough guy in the secondary. He is incredibly savvy at defending the pass. For the Dolphins, he allowed just 65 receptions out of 110 targets, a completion rate of just 59 percent. And he picked off five interceptions while allowing just four touchdowns over that period. He has 82 tackles, 16 pass deflections, four quarterback hits, and 1.0 quarterback sacks over that time frame as well. He may no longer be a shut-down corner, but he's better than anyone on the Rams roster right now.

As young as the Rams roster has waxed of late, the team is still very much depending on veteran leadership to win games in 2025. The veterans of this team remain QB Matthew Stafford, RT Rob Havenstein, TE Tyler Higbee, newly signed WR Davante Adams, and on defense, CB Darious Williams. Ramsey is a natural addition to these veterans. It was the combination of Ramsey and Williams that was so effective in the Rams' secondary in the past.

The Rams are contending to win Super Bowl LX. The bottom line question is: Does Jalen Ramsey help this team's chances? In almost every way conceivable, Ramsey gives the Rams a much better chance of winning in the regular season and the NFL Playoffs. He just does.

What I love most about the Ramsey-Rams reunion scenario is how the Rams have upgraded the safety positions since Ramsey last played for the team. Until 2022, the best safety in the Rams' secondary was John Johnson III. Now the Rams boast Quentin Lake, Kamren Curl, Kamren Kinchens, and Jaylen McCollough. All four safeties are adept at pass coverage and creating turnovers.

Inserting Ramsey into the secondary frees up opportunistic defensive backs to make even more plays on the football. The Rams' defense not only improves pass coverage, but they also level up their turnover creation as well.