Atlanta Falcons could be a landing spot for Jalen Ramsey

The Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons are teams headed clearly in opposite directions. The Falcons are preparing to make a playoff push by spending big in free agency while the Rams are attempting to shed cap and recover from the ultimate Super Bowl hangover.

Dealing Jalen Ramsey to shed cap is a sensible move for a team with a myriad of roster issues. Already the Rams have parted ways with Bobby Wagner.

First, let’s focus on why a deal would make sense for the Falcons. Atlanta has a shutdown corner in A.J. Terrell and solid young pieces around him. However, the team lacks an established option after Terrell with Casey Hayward coming off of a serious injury in his mid-thirties. Isaiah Oliver is a free agent leaving the team with very little depth they can rely on.

Adding Ramsey gives the Falcons arguably the best duo at corner in the league and would likely cost the team a draft pick for which they couldn’t get a player close to Jalen’s ability. Ramsey and Terrell would allow Atlanta to play far more man coverage becoming more creative with blitz and run-stopping packages.

The downside of a trade for Atlanta is the $22-26 million dollar cap hit that Ramsey will be over the next three seasons. There is also the fact that this is spending a large majority of Atlanta’s hard-earned cap space without addressing the team’s biggest needs on defense help for Grady Jarrett in the interior and a pass rusher.

If Ramsey is on the trade market it is a move Atlanta should weigh carefully. Jalen can still play at a high level and would make the Falcons a nightmare for opposing receivers. However, it is hard to see the Falcons making this move unless the team believes they can fix the pass rush with their new defensive coaching staff and additions in the draft. If that is the case there isn’t any question Atlanta should chase Ramsey this off-season.