In seven NFL seasons, cornerback Jalen Ramsey has made six Pro Bowls. The only time he didn’t was his rookie year; he took second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. 

He’s also made the All-Pro first team on three occasions, including in 2020 and 2021. He’s considered one of the premier corners in a league that has realized the importance of the position in recent years. 

But he’s also due to make $75 million over the next three years (including $17 million this season), and his Los Angeles Rams are in dire salary cap straits.

Ramsey's bloated salary is a huge issue, mainly due to the Rams' overall trajectory (LA went 5-12 last year). While their 2021 motto of 'F them picks' resulted in a championship, LA now has just six draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft - zero first rounders and only two picks on Day 2. 

The Rams have already started making tough roster decisions - they released standout LB Bobby Wagner. It's way too costly to straight up release Ramsey ($32 million dead cap hit before June 1), but the belief is that Ramsey is one of the favorites to be dealt in the next month, especially since he should return some sorely needed draft capital.

Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson has used his resources of NFL contacts developed over 20 years covering the league to create his hypothetical NFL futures odds on Ramsey's next team. 

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Jalen Ramsey 2023 Team Odds

Odds are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps.

The Rams are currently $14 million over the 2023 salary cap with a lot of questions for a team that went-all in to win Super Bowl 56. Their Super Bowl 58 odds reflect the situation Los Angeles finds itself in (+3500 to win it all on DraftKings).

The Rams aren't nearly good enough currently to continue to absorb Ramsey's massive salary, which is why his name has surfaced as a trade candidate.

Ramsey's $17 million base salary becomes guaranteed on March 20, which means the Rams might trade him before that date if they want draft capital they can use this year. But while trading Ramsey before March 20 would save $5.6 million in cap space, that also creates a $19.6 million dead cap hit, per Spotrac.com. 

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Therefore, a post-June 1 trade makes sense here: It would save $17 million on this year's cap, while still leaving the $19.6 million dead cap hit, though that would be spread out between 2023 ($8.2 million) and 2024 ($11.4 million).

Meanwhile, it appears Ramsey himself has prepared for the thought of being elsewhere next season. 

The 6-time Pro Bowler is coming off another stellar year, with a career-best 88 tackles and 18 passes defended, with four INTs. He also allowed seven TDs – more than 2020 and 2021 combined – and his yards allowed was his most since 2018. 

Still, Ramsey is elite and at age 28 has ample gas in the tank. Teams with a need at cornerback – there are a lot of them – would jump at adding Ramsey, even for this asking price (there is an out in his contract after 2024 by way of an $11.4 million dead cap hit). The team that trades for him could also extend Ramsey to wipe out the remaining three years of his current deal.

As luck would have it, all but one of the top six teams in available cap space are among the teams that need help at the cornerback position. 

No team can outspend the Chicago Bears or Atlanta Falcons this offseason. While CB isn’t the most-pressing need for the Bears, with nearly $100 million in cap space, they wouldn’t have to work hard to secure a deal for Ramsey. The Falcons ($55 million) might balk, but could make it work as well, and they absolutely need the help at CB. 

The Lions have a want and a need, with a high-scoring offense but a porous defense, especially vs. the pass. Detroit GM Brad Holmes was a key leader in the Rams front office when they traded for Ramsey in 2019, so there’s a personal connection as well. The Lions can afford him, too. 

The Bengals might be in win-now mode with several key players out of contract next year and 2024. Ramsey could be the difference for a stocked side looking for an edge over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. 

Ramsey in 2019 lauded Vegas as a place he would love to play. The Raiders owned the 29th-ranked pass defense last year and has cap space to spare after cutting QB Derek Carr. 

The Ravens currently own $25 million in cap space. But that doesn’t include QB Lamar Jackson, who may get the franchise tag (at around $32 million) or outgoing CB Marcus Peters, the top corner on the free agent market. 

The New England Patriots, New York Giants and Denver Broncos are on the fringe of affordability with Ramsey’s deal. The usually money-conscious Pats ($36 million) have a history of spending big on a top-tier corner under Bill Belichick.  

New York’s numbers are likely to be blown up if QB Daniel Jones and RB Saquon Barkley are both retained. The Broncos have a need and a new coach, but with $12 million of available cap space, it would require a shift in funds. 

The Field includes other teams that will be looking to upgrade at cornerback but currently don’t have the cap space to seriously consider a move without making major cuts of their own. That includes the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles. 

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