The Los Angeles Rams made a big bet on Jalen Ramsey in 2019 when they traded two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder to the Jaguars for the All-Pro cornerback. They then signed him to a five-year, $100 million contract in 2020, locking him in for the long haul in Los Angeles.
Every step of the way, it was worth it. The trade, the contract, the commitment. It’s paid off beautifully for the Rams.
And in 2022, Ramsey will once again prove his value to the team against some of the best receivers in the NFL.
Now, the Rams won’t use him as a lockdown, man-to-man corner every week and every snap. He played in the slot a bunch last season before a late-season change kept him on the outside more often.
Given the way the Rams defense played down the stretch and into the postseason, I would expect him to play more outside than in the slot next season. And with that comes some really fun matchups.
Pro Football Focus listed the top receivers Ramsey will face throughout the year, ranging from Stefon Diggs to CeeDee Lamb and DeAndre Hopkins to Davante Adams.
How many WRs is Jalen Ramsey shutting down next season? pic.twitter.com/UBVAkkbc0H
— PFF (@PFF) May 16, 2022
Adams and Samuel both finished in the top five in receiving yards last season. Diggs was eighth, and thought he wasn’t listed in PFF’s tweet, Tyler Lockett was ninth with 1,175 yards in 2021.
Moore, Allen and Lamb were all in the top 16 in receiving yards, as well, as was Chris Godwin – who missed three games and still had the 15th-most yards.
Evans and Metcalf both had down years by their standards, finishing 23rd and 28th, respectively, in receiving yards. They’re still among the 10 or 12 best receivers in the NFL entering 2022.
And, of course, Thomas missed all of last season due to injury, but he led the NFL with 1,725 yards and 149 catches in 2019 when he was a first-team All-Pro.
