The Los Angeles Rams traded All-Pro cornerback on Sunday to the Miami Dolphins. While it wasn’t the precise commerce that was stunning, what the Rams received in return definitely was. After giving up a number of first-round picks for Ramsey again in 2019, common supervisor Les Snead received a third-round choose 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 choose in return and typically each. Instead, the Rams managed the 77th general choose within the third-round of the 2023 NFL Draft and depth tight finish who has one reception for eight yards in two years.
The Jaguars received the next draft choose (No. 70) for CJ Henderson than the Rams received for Jalen Ramsey (No. 77)
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) March 12, 2023
It’s true that the Dolphins are guaranteeing the ultimate two years of Ramsey’s contract which performed into the return that the Rams received for him. Still, Ramsey is an elite cornerback that’s one-year faraway from being a primary crew 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 choose. That fifth spherical choose was used to commerce away Aqib Talib and the Rams received a seventh spherical choose in return. The Rams then used that seventh spherical choose to commerce up and take Kyren Williams final season. Young in the meantime was minimize 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 minimize with none commerce compensation. The Rams received’t even get a compensatory choose as a result of the 2 gamers have been minimize 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 choose. Yes, Woods was coming off of a torn ACL, however for a participant that had collected over 900 yards in three of the earlier 4 years, a sixth-round choose appeared like a low provide.
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 choose and Hunter Long.
- Marcus Peters: Traded for Fifth-round choose 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 choose.
- Robert Quinn: Traded to Miami Dolphins for fourth-round choose.
These are all gamers that the Rams have traded for or given huge extensions to all through Snead’s tenure. Gurley’s state of affairs 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, nevertheless it was nonetheless a significant price ticket whereas virtually giving Goff away for nothing.
Quinn was traded away for a fourth-round choose in 2018. The Philadelphia Eagles acquired Quinn from the Chicago Bears final yr for a fourth spherical choose. Should the Rams have been capable of get extra for Quinn on the time? Austin’s contract was a deal carried out in poor judgement to start with, nevertheless it’s nonetheless actually dangerous worth.
Throughout Snead’s tenure, the Rams have arguably overpaid for gamers whereas underselling when attempting to do away with an asset. Yes, it resulted in a Super Bowl and it was price it, nevertheless it’s additionally a cause the Rams are within the predicament they’re in now. Trading away belongings when you recognize you have to minimize your losses may be seen as a constructive. At the identical time, getting a single third spherical choose for Wagner, Floyd, and Ramsey is a significant flaw in how Snead has carried out enterprise.
This isn’t essentially to criticize Snead. He’s a top-10 common supervisor within the NFL and searching on the NFL common supervisor panorama, you are able to do rather a lot 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 will likely 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 through the Greatest Show on Turf period, it’s arduous to see Snead lasting lengthy in Los Angeles.
