Jalen Ramsey of the Jacksonville Jaguars is traded to the Los Angeles Rams, October 15, 2019. /VCG Photo
The Los Angeles Rams dropped the first bomb on the trade market on Tuesday as the 2019 NFL season began by acquiring two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars which got two first-round picks (in 2020 and 2021) and one fourth-rounder (in 2021) in return, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"Can't spell Ramsey without Rams. Let's get to work, @jalenramsey‼️" wrote the team on Twitter. Almost at the same time, Ramsey tweeted a photo of him wearing the Rams jersey.
Kenny Young (L) of the Baltimore Ravens and Austin Corbett of the Cleveland Browns (R) are traded to the Los Angeles Rams, October 15, 2019. /VCG Photo
Earlier in the day, the Rams closed another two deals: they sent CB Marcus Peters to the Baltimore Ravens for linebacker Kenny Young and an undisclosed 2020 pick, and landed guard/center Austin Corbett from the Cleveland Browns at the cost of an undisclosed 2021 pick.
It's not usual for a championship contender to make big changes in its franchise during the season, but the Rams had to do it. Having won their first three games this season, the team showed the league how powerful they are. Nonetheless, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed the NFL how weak the Rams' defense was by claiming a 55-40 victory at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 29.
Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams passes under pressure from Kwon Alexander #56 of the San Francisco 49ers for an incomplete pass in the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, October 13, 2019. /VCG Photo
Since then, the Rams continued to lose to the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. They already had enough to worry about in terms of their offense as quarterback Jared Goff kept losing control of his game. Meanwhile, watching their opponents score an average of 25.7 points per game could not help the team make Super Bowl in Miami next February either.
24-year-old Ramsey should be able to help the team with the latter. He finished the 2018 season with 65 combined tackles, 13 passes defended and three interceptions for Jaguars. As for the team's offense, the Rams will have to continue to believe that Goff can adjust himself for the better before his new four-year, 134-million-U.S.-dollar contract grows toxic.