The Los Angeles Rams have traded two first-round draft selections and a fourth-round selection for the former Jacksonville Jaguars superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey has had a rocky start to his 2019 season with Jacksonville. It all culminated in Ramsey requesting a trade from the Jaguars. He recently missed time for the birth of his child and a lingering back issue but will be ready to get out there for the Rams as soon as possible.
Ramsey has built a name for himself while in Jacksonville and is considered one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks. His price tag will create conversation as to whether the Rams made the right decision, but adding Ramsey to a defense that already has Aaron Donald is going to be tough for opposing offenses to decipher. Here are three ways Jalen Ramsey immediately impacts the Rams.
Three Ways Jalen Ramsey Immediately Impacts the Rams
Re-establishes Rams As Top Defense
The Rams defense has been touted as a top defensive unit in the NFL. Despite getting off to a rough start this season, they still are. They have allowed 27 or more points in three of their six games this season. The Rams have five interceptions this season, which ranks 13th in the NFL. They also rank 18th in sacks. Ramsey’s lockdown coverage and ability to shut down an entire side of the field can help the Rams’ pass rush get back to their dominant ways. Ramsey and Donald are the best players at their respective positions according to many. Now, they are on the same defense. With ten games still to be played this season, the Rams have a good chance to right their ship with Ramsey on board.
Gives a Spark to a Team In the Dark
The Rams started the season hot with a 3-0 start before dropping three straight games. Two of those losses were to divisional opponents, which puts them in a tough spot heading into the toughest part of the NFL season. The Rams now get Ramsey on the team in time for some key matchups in their near future. The Rams will face Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons, A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd‘s Cincinnati Bengals, and JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s Pittsburgh Steelers. These teams are not the toughest teams in the NFL, but they have some of the NFL’s top receivers. Ramsey will look to lock them down while the Rams get back on their feet after a rough three-week drop.
Put Pressure on the Team to Succeed Right Now
The Rams traded away their first-round draft selection for the next two NFL drafts in order to receive Jalen Ramsey. The Rams have mortgaged their future on Ramsey being the missing piece to the puzzle. In their first two losses against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks, Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson combined for eight touchdowns and 653 passing yards. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo added 243 yards to that total in their third straight loss. Ramsey will be able to help lower those totals while Donald disrupts those quarterbacks. If the Rams fail to succeed with Ramsey, they will have a long road ahead before they can add any top tier young talent to their roster.
All Eyes On LA
The Rams have sacrificed a larger amount of value into their current roster. Two first-round picks for Ramsey and 200 million dollars to quarterback Jared Goff are just a few examples of the amount of capital they have placed into the 2019 Los Angeles Rams. Whether Ramsey will put the puzzle together for the Rams remains to be seen. However, he is without a doubt a significant upgrade to the Rams defense and overall roster. Their team last season found enough success to make the super bowl. Now, with Ramsey, it is hard to say that the Rams are a favorite to return to the super bowl this season.
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