The most obvious reason for the Los Angeles Rams trading Jalen Ramsey is that they didn’t want to keep his sizable contract on the books. Not to mention, he wanted a raise, which he got from the Miami Dolphins in the form of guaranteed money.
The addition of a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long helps the Rams build for the future, but this was a financially driven decision. Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports understands that, but he believes there’s something deeper going on in Los Angeles with Ramsey being traded.
On his show Monday, Cowherd said he believes this move was about Sean McVay wanting to prioritize the offense instead of the defense. And after threatening to retire in January, McVay was able to get more say in personnel decisions, Cowherd believes.
“This year, what did he get out of that threat? Control of personnel,” Cowherd said. “I was told, I said it on this show multiple times a month ago, McVay was going to move off defensive pieces. They were gonna spend a year getting much better offensive personnel.”
.@ColinCowherd reacts to the Rams trading Jalen Ramsey:
"Sean McVay always had power with the Rams, but he's used this retirement for a contract and bigger personnel push on offense." pic.twitter.com/LhSx82pk7M
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 13, 2023
Cowherd speculates that McVay is looking around the league at teams like the 49ers and Dolphins and seeing loaded offenses, while the Rams’ group is lagging behind with its personnel on that side of the ball.
“’I got Cooper Kupp, no number two, not sure about my quarterback, offensive line’s a mess, I’d trade Cam Akers in 45 minutes. You gotta get me some pieces!’” Cowherd said.
There’s no question the defense looked better on paper than the offense coming into this offseason. Now, it’s a closer split – and not in a good way. Ramsey, Bobby Wagner and Leonard Floyd are all gone, leaving Aaron Donald as the only real star on that side of the ball.
Offensively, the Rams have Kupp and Matthew Stafford, but they’re considering moving Allen Robinson, Tyler Higbee is getting older and like Cowherd said, the line is a mess.
Cowherd may not be far off base with his speculation that the Rams are prioritizing the offense after last year’s awful showing. But even with these defensive cuts, it’s not like they have a ton of money to spend on the offense now.
