The Pittsburgh Steelers made a significant offseason acquisition by trading for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins. Ramsey became available for trade after a falling out with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who granted him permission to seek a trade in April. This set off interest from several teams around the league.
Among those interested, the Los Angeles Rams were a natural fit due to their familiarity with Ramsey and their ongoing need at the cornerback position. Head coach Sean McVay and other members of the Rams organization had discussed the possibility of bringing Ramsey back in recent weeks, fueling speculation about a reunion.
According to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, the Rams and Steelers were the two primary teams engaged in trade discussions for Ramsey before the Steelers ultimately secured the deal. However, the Rams’ salary cap situation made it difficult for them to finalize a trade, whereas the Steelers had the financial flexibility to restructure Ramsey’s contract, including a $1.5 million raise this season.
Ramsey is now expected to be a cornerstone of a strong Steelers secondary, joining players like Darius Slay, Joey Porter Jr., Juan Thornhill, and DeShon Elliott. On the other hand, the Rams, despite their need for another starting cornerback, might opt to stick with their current roster rather than pursuing new options in free agency.
During his time with the Rams from 2019 to 2022, Ramsey was a dominant presence, recording 10 interceptions, 47 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two sacks, and 242 tackles in 57 games. He earned three Pro Bowl selections and was a key contributor to the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory. Rams safety Quentin Lake had expressed hope that Ramsey would return, highlighting his exceptional talent, experience, and value to the defense.
