Should the Rams have gotten extra in return for Jalen Ramsey
The Los Angeles Rams traded All-Pro cornerback on Sunday to the Miami Dolphins. While it wasn’t the precise commerce that was shocking, what the Rams acquired in return definitely was. After giving up a number of first-round picks for Ramsey again in 2019, common supervisor Les Snead acquired a third-round decide and depth tight finish Hunter Long in return.
To say the commerce return for Ramsey was low is an understatement.
In late February, NBC Sports’ Peter King predicted potential commerce returns for Ramsey. In all three situations, King had the Rams getting a primary or a second-round decide in return and typically each. Instead, the Rams managed the 77th total decide within the third-round of the 2023 NFL Draft and depth tight finish who has one reception for eight yards in two years.
It’s true that the Dolphins are guaranteeing the ultimate two years of Ramsey’s contract which performed into the return that the Rams acquired for him. Still, Ramsey is an elite cornerback that’s one-year faraway from being a primary workforce all-pro. Ramsey is the kind of participant that may transfer to security when he can now not be elite on the skin.
The commerce was an identical mannequin as when the Rams traded Marcus Peters to the Baltimore Ravens for linebacker Kenny Young and a fifth-round decide. That fifth spherical decide was used to commerce away Aqib Talib and the Rams acquired a seventh spherical decide in return. The Rams then used that seventh spherical decide to commerce up and take Kyren Williams final season. Young in the meantime was lower in the midst of the 2021 season.
Shortly following the Peters commerce, the Rams have been capable of purchase Ramsey. Still, it doesn’t put apart the truth that the commerce return was extraordinarily low for a participant of Peters’ caliber.
Snead and the Rams have a historical past of getting little to no worth for big-name gamers.
Both Bobby Wagner and Leonard Floyd have been outright lower with none commerce compensation. The Rams received’t even get a compensatory decide as a result of the 2 gamers have been lower and their contracts didn’t expire. It’s comprehensible that the Rams would wish to do proper by Wagner. However, Floyd ought to have been a tradeable asset given his manufacturing and the place that he performs.
Just final season, Snead traded Robert Woods to the Tennessee Titans for a sixth-round decide. Yes, Woods was coming off of a torn ACL, however for a participant that had accrued over 900 yards in three of the earlier 4 years, a sixth-round decide appeared like a low supply.
These are simply the newest instance. Taking a take a look at Snead’s historical past together with the above examples:
- Leonard Floyd: Cut outright. Zero compensation.
- Jalen Ramsey: Traded for third-round decide and Hunter Long.
- Marcus Peters: Traded for Fifth-round decide and Kenny Young.
- Todd Gurley: Cut outright. Zero compensation.
- Jared Goff: Included in Matthew Stafford commerce together with two first-round picks and a 3rd.
- Tavon Austin: Traded to Dallas Cowboys for sixth-round decide.
- Robert Quinn: Traded to Miami Dolphins for fourth-round decide.
These are all gamers that the Rams have traded for or given large extensions to all through Snead’s tenure. Gurley’s scenario wants context given his knee, however as a younger quarterback, Goff ought to have had extra worth within the Stafford commerce. Some of what the Rams gave up was for the contract, however it was nonetheless a serious price ticket whereas virtually giving Goff away for nothing.
Quinn was traded away for a fourth-round decide in 2018. The Philadelphia Eagles acquired Quinn from the Chicago Bears final 12 months for a fourth spherical decide. Should the Rams have been capable of get extra for Quinn on the time? Austin’s contract was a deal finished in poor judgement to start with, however it’s nonetheless actually unhealthy worth.
Throughout Snead’s tenure, the Rams have arguably overpaid for gamers whereas underselling when making an attempt to do away with an asset. Yes, it resulted in a Super Bowl and it was value it, however it’s additionally a cause the Rams are within the predicament they’re in now. Trading away belongings when you realize it’s essential lower your losses will be seen as a constructive. At the identical time, getting a single third spherical decide for Wagner, Floyd, and Ramsey is a serious flaw in how Snead has finished enterprise.
This isn’t essentially to criticize Snead. He’s a top-10 common supervisor within the NFL and looking out on the NFL common supervisor panorama, you are able to do lots worse. It’s solely to level out a mistake that the Rams have made time and time once more.
Whether you wish to name it a transform, re-tool, reset, or rebuild, Snead shall be judged on the pending consequence. If the Rams are capable of bounce again in 2024 and be again as contenders, he could also be seen as a genius. On the flip facet, if the Rams find yourself in a repeat of the downfall in the course of the Greatest Show on Turf period, it’s onerous to see Snead lasting lengthy in Los Angeles.
Read extra
