A proposal to trade Jalen Ramsey to the Chargers instead of the Rams
The Chargers have long wished to be as relevant as the Rams, but is the other L.A. team willing to take the risks necessary to become a Super Bowl champion? Whether Jalen Ramsey is still good enough to take any team to the Super Bowl is a matter of opinion, but trading for him could still put a team over the top and the Chargers could be one such franchise that still needs to make a move.
In a post for CBS Sports, writer Cody Benjamin proposed a trade that sends Ramsey to L.A., but not to the Rams as most have been expecting:
Why it makes sense: Ramsey and the Miami Dolphins have basically been broadcasting the cornerback’s trade availability for weeks, anticipating a breakup less than one year after the two sides struck a lucrative contract extension. And early indications are Ramsey would prefer to land in Los Angeles. A reunion with the Rams makes sense given their title aspirations and secondary needs, but the Chargers were reportedly close to swinging a major deal for Metcalf earlier this offseason, so they could be even more primed to part with real draft capital, this time to shore up the back end of Jesse Minter’s defense. They’ve still got north of $25 million in 2025 salary cap space.
Ramsey’s contract is a holdup for everybody, including the Dolphins. A trade looks inevitable, but how much money is Miami willing to eat to facilitate a deal? That could be what’s keeping Les Snead from agreeing to any sort of reunion.
The Chargers went 11-6 last season — one more win than the Rams — but lost 32-12 to the Texans in the wild card round, an embarrassing defeat for a franchise that has had its share of ugly playoff losses. The Chargers have not won a playoff game since 2018 and have not made the AFC Championship since 2007.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh could be the key to a turnaround, and though he is a former quarterback his calling card is defense and run game. The Chargers added guard Mekhi Becton in free agency, drafted running back Omarion Hampton in the first round, reunited with receiver Mike Williams, and parted ways with Joey Bosa.
Is Ramsey the final piece to the puzzle?
Maybe he is, but the Chargers are hesitant to make big moves like the Rams.