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Teams Feel Ramsey Not Worth a First-Round Pick

Updated March 1, 2023
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

A year ago, the Chicago Bears traded edge rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers, getting a second-round pick in return for the star pass rusher. Just three years earlier, the Bears gave up two first-round picks to pull Mack from the Oakland Raiders, but a big contract and his age lowered the value on Mack. Team sources here at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine told WalterFootball.com that the same trend is happening with Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Rams have been shopping Ramsey for weeks and have let it be known that he very likely to be traded in the coming weeks. In speaking to team sources from cornerback-needy NFL franchises, they said they did not think Ramsey was worth a first-round pick anymore.

"We dug into his tape from last year, and his days as an elite player are numbered, if not over," said an AFC director of player personnel. "He's starting to gamble more, looking to make plays. He's playing for picks. He's losing speed, you can see that versus Chris Olave. It was frightening. Jalen was trying and running, but couldn't keep up with him. I've never seen a guy just run by him like that. D.K. Metcalf and Davante Adams showed some of that as well. Teams aren't scared of him anymore, and they're throwing at him. And it's not just the player; it's the contract that comes with him."

Ramsey is slated to make $17 million next year and will turn 29 during the 2023 season. Team sources say they graded Ramsey with a projection as a good starter for next season, but did not grade him as an elite player. According to Spotrac.com, Ramsey is slated to make $18.5 million in 2024 and $19.5 million in 2025. The dead cap money for cutting Ramsey would be $11.4 million in 2024 and $3.2 million in 2025.

The 2023 NFL Draft is viewed as a quality year for cornerback talent, posessing good depth of quality prospects into Day 2. Team sources say that availability of cheap young talent hurts the Ramsey trade market. While there could be a franchise desperate enough to give up a first-round pick, multiple teams are said to feel Ramsey's value is in line with players like Khalil Mack and DeAndre Hopkins, who were traded for second-round picks.

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Teams Feel Ramsey Not Worth a First-Round Pick

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