The Los Angeles Rams enter a 2025 season in which they’ll be seen as a top contender. As they enter another Super Bowl window, it would not be surprising to see general manager Les Snead make a move to capitalize one more time with quarterback Matthew Stafford under center.
Since joining the Rams in 2012, Snead has been one of the more aggressive general managers in the NFL. That was especially the case during the “F Them Picks” era in which the Rams gave up draft capital for star players. The 2025 season hasn’t even started and the Rams have already been mentioned as a potential team for star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
It was five seasons ago that the Rams traded for Ramsey the first time as he was acquired in the middle of the 2019 season. Along with A.J. Bouye, Ramsey had helped lead a revamped secondary with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2017, the Jaguars had the number one pass defense, allowing the fewest total yards and fewest net yards per pass attempt. By 2019, the relationship between Ramsey and the Jaguars had soured. Ramsey and former Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone had a heated exchange on the sideline during a game and the cornerback was in need of a new contract. A month later, Ramsey was traded to the Rams.
Making a splash move for a top cornerback was nothing new to Snead. The Rams general manager traded for cornerback Marcus Peters during the 2018 season. However, Peters was never a great scheme fit for Wade Phillips’ defense. It wasn’t often that a top cornerback of Ramsey’s caliber became available, and the Rams saw an opportunity to move on from Peters for an upgrade at the position.
Trade compensation for Jalen Ramsey
Rams receive: CB Jalen Ramsey
Jaguars receive: 2020 first-round pick 2021 first-round pick, 2021 fourth-round pick
How did Jalen Ramsey perform for the Rams after the trade?
The Jalen Ramsey trade signified very different things for both the Rams and Jaguars. For the Rams, it meant that this was a team that would do whatever it could to get over the hump and chase a Super Bowl. The trade for Ramsey was Snead’s largest to date. While he gave up a first-round pick to acquire wide receiver Brandin Cooks, the trade for Ramsey would require multiple first-round selections. With multiple first-round picks on the line, there was also an added pressure to sign the cornerback to a contract extension.
Ramsey would be a big part of the Rams’ eventual Super Bowl run as he was awarded a five-year, $105 million contract extension before the 2020 season. Ramsey would go on to win first-team All-Pro selections in 2020 and 2021. While he had some shortcomings in the playoffs, he had two pass breakups in the 2021 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers and another pass breakup in the Super Bowl.
How did the Jaguars perform with the picks from Jalen Ramsey trade?
Despite the Jaguars making the AFC Championship game in 2017, trading away Ramsey was the beginning of another rebuild. Following the 2019 season, Bouye would sign with the Houston Texans in free agency. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell was also traded after the 2019 season along with Yannick Ngakoue.
The picks that the Jaguars acquired in the Ramsey trade turned into edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, running back Travis Etienne, and edge rusher Jordan Smith. Chaisson never developed and had five sacks in four years with the Jaguars. Etienne had a strong sophomore year, scoring 11 touchdowns and rushing for 1000 yards. However, heading into 2025, there is some doubt when it comes to Etienne’s future on the team. Lastly, Smith was cut just one year after being drafted.
Who won the Jalen Ramsey trade and what can we learn?
The Rams showed that when you are in a place to compete, known commodities and veteran players are more valuable than draft picks. The Jaguars passed on Pro Bowl-caliber players in Justin Jefferson, Patrick Queen, and Xavier McKinney while chasing Chaisson’s upside. The following year, they made the poor decision to draft a running back in the first round.
In 2016, the Jaguars used the fifth-overall pick to select Ramsey. From a value perspective, the 20th, 25th, and 121st overall picks equate to a top-10 selection. However, the Jaguars didn’t draft a single player that they could build their franchise around.
Additionally, the Rams showed that team culture is important. With the Jaguars, Ramsey had developed a reputation for being a cancer in the locker room. However, in Los Angeles, the cornerback became one of Sean McVay’s favorite players to coach and was a team leader.
By trading for Ramsey, Los Angeles got exactly what they wanted. Ramsey was a key piece of their secondary as the Rams chased a Super Bowl. The Rams accomplished that in 2021 by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals. Ramsey was traded away in 2022, but the goal had already been achieved at that point.
If there is something for the Rams to learn it would be to be more careful with the contract side of things. Ramsey was always going to need a new contract. The Rams took on $19.6 million as Ramsey was traded just two seasons into his five-year deal.
In the case that the Rams do trade for Ramsey once again, that is something that they’ll need to keep in mind. Ramsey has cash hits of $25 million, $21 million, and $22 million over the next three seasons.