An analyst recently suggested the Cincinnati Bengals as a possible landing spot for cornerback Jalen Ramsey if the Los Angeles Rams cut the veteran.
Just a few days later, reports surfaced saying the Rams are likely to trade Ramsey and that they have already engaged other teams in talks.
While it was easy to suggest a why not? approach to Ramsey if he was a free agent, it’s worth pointing out it’s a no-go if the Bengals need to acquire him via trade.
Ramsey as a free agent was always going to cost a ton of cash — he’s still just 28 years old and earned an 86.4 PFF grade last year.
But if acquired via trade, unless he renegotiates or the Rams agree to eat some of the money, Ramsey counts as a $17 million cap hit in 2023 on a front-loaded deal.
Meaning, the Bengals would have to cough up assets via trade and then pay that huge salary. It’s one thing for the team to pay the number necessary, it’s another to give up things like draft picks.
It’s no exaggeration to say the Bengals need help at cornerback. Depth is thin even if they manage to bring Eli Apple back and across from second-rounder Cam Taylor-Britt, Chidobe Awuzie continues to rehab his injury.
But fans busy photoshopping Ramsey into Bengals stripes can ease off unless the Rams cut him — and even then it’s highly unlikely.
