All-Pro CB says Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins is his toughest matchup

Veteran Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey named Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones as his other toughest matchups, along with Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins. 

Los Angeles Rams cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, was recently featured on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast and he was asked to name the toughest wide receivers he’s faced throughout his NFL career, with DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals being his toughest matchup.

“D-Hop done had 20 different quarterbacks and put up the same numbers year after year,” Ramsey said on the podcast. “It’s some receivers who you’re like, ‘dog, without that quarterback, I don’t know if he could do what he doing.”

While Hopkins has seen Ramsey more times than any other receiver in the cornerback’s career, it was interesting to hear that he put Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones in his top three when he has only faced each receiver one time since being drafted in 2016.

In 2018, when he was still with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ramsey matched up against Beckham and the New York Giants. Despite Beckham finishing with 11 receptions for 111 yards, he only had five receptions for 75 yards with Ramsey as the nearest defender.

During Ramsey’s first game with the Rams in 2019, Jones finished with six receptions for 93 yards, but he was held to three receptions for 69 yards with Ramsey in coverage.

Jalen Ramsey has won almost every matchup against Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins 

Ramsey has faced Hopkins nine times since 2016, and the advantage has seemingly gone to Ramsey during each matchup.

Against the Jaguars and Rams, Hopkins has collected 56 receptions for 594 yards and three touchdowns. According to Next Gen Stats, however, Hopkins only has 35 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns with Ramsey in coverage.

The only big game Hopkins has had against Ramsey came in their 2018 matchup when Hopkins caught 12 passes for 147 yards, which was the only time he had a 100-yard game against the cornerback, and the only time Ramsey ever allowed 100 yards to a receiver.

Their 2020 matchup was all Ramsey, however, as Hopkins finished with five receptions for 48 yards in two games. Cardinals and Rams fans should expect another show in 2021, with the two set to faceoff for the 10th and 11th time this upcoming season.