For months, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Jalen Ramsey would eventually be traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Now, in a shocking turn of events, he's instead been shipped to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As their division rival misses out on a crucial move, Arizona Cardinals fans couldn't be happier.
Rams caught sleeping in Jalen Ramsey sweepstakes, and Cardinals fans love it
First off, what a wild trade. Player-for-player trades almost never happen in the NFL anymore. For the most part, teams look to acquire draft capital in exchange for players. In this trade, the Pittsburgh Steelers sent Minkah Fitzpatrick and a fifth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, and a seventh-round pick.
The Arizona Cardinals just dodged a bullet that could have hindered their chances at a playoff appearance.
The Jalen Ramsey trade saga has dragged on for most of the offseason. Ramsey has been vocal about wanting out of Miami, and to many NFL experts, his next team was obvious. The Los Angeles Rams are in desperate need of a cornerback, and they've never hesitated to trade for star players.
When Ramsey started dropping cryptic tweets in late May, it looked like the Rams were about to seal the deal.
Per NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Rams were heavily involved in seeking out a trade for Jalen Ramsey. They just couldn't match what the Steelers were willing to pay for the star cornerback.
Now, the Rams look set to head into the season with Ahkello Witherspoon, Darious Williams, and Quentin Lake as their starting cornerbacks. It's one of the worst cornerback groups in the league and presents as a clear weakness on the Rams' roster.
Jalen Ramsey may not be the All-Pro that he once was, but he would still have been a major upgrade over what Los Angeles currently has at the position. He's produced at least two interceptions in each of the last four seasons, and he earned a coverage grade of 71.9 from PFF in 2024.
The NFC West is one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL. As the Arizona Cardinals push for a division title in 2025, they need to take advantage of any edge they can find over their rivals. With Jalen Ramsey on the roster, the Los Angeles Rams would have no clear weaknesses. Now, the Cardinals are set up to exploit Los Angeles' secondary in their two matchups.