After weeks of speculation, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded defensive back Jalen Ramsey. The Jaguars finally found a trade partner in the Los Angeles Rams and got a decent return for the All-Pro talent. In return for Ramsey, the Rams sent their first-round picks in both 2020 and 2021 and are also sent a fourth-round pick for 2021. For the Jaguars, this presents a nice way to try to rebuild on the fly as they acquire high draft choices for the near future.
For the Rams, who are in a win-now mode, they are hoping that the acquisition can help a decimated defensive core. The Rams currently rank 25th in the NFL in opponents’ points per game (25.7) and rank 15th in opponents’ passing yards per game (allowing 241.3). Further increasing the need was the fact that the Rams placed Aqib Talib on injured reserve, making the need for a shutdown defensive back all the more pressing.
It will also be interesting to see if the Rams can work out a contract extension with Ramsey. The two-time Pro-Bowler’s contract runs through the 2020 season, and after giving up so many high draft picks, it is obviously a move that Los Angeles hopes can help it both now and in the future. It will be interesting to see how the 2016 No. 5 overall pick plays in Los Angeles, but one thing is for certain, he is likely much happier after the trade.
This wasn’t the only trade that Los Angeles made, though. Not only did Ramsey come in to help replace the injured Talib, but he also is trying to help improve the poor defensive play. One player who struggled early on this season for the Rams now finds himself in a new uniform.
Marcus Peters, who is in the last year of his rookie contract, was sent to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for linebacker Kenny Young and a 2020 fifth-round pick. While this trade was made prior to the Ramsey trade, Los Angeles obviously knew that it would have his replacement shortly thereafter.
On an even smaller scale, the Rams technically made a third deal that day, sending a 2021 draft pick to the Browns in exchange for guard Austin Corbett. What is clear is that after losing a few games in a row, the Rams are certainly looking to get back on track, even if it means making some changes to the roster.
Raiders Reach Extension With Waller
For the Raiders, tight end Darren Waller has certainly become a focal point of their offense this season. Now, he is being rewarded for his efforts, as he signed an extension with the team through the 2023 season.
This is quite the turnaround for Waller, a sixth-round pick who will make about $9 million a year in this new deal. Waller had a rough past, having been suspended twice by the league for illegal substances, but he seems to have turned it around now.
This season, Waller has 37 receptions for 359 yards heading into Sunday’s game with Green Bay. He has also rushed once for seven yards. He has elevated himself to one of the top tight ends in the game right now, and with the turmoil that has surrounded the Raiders this season, most notably from the Antonio Brown fiasco, he has been a bright spot for the team. The Raiders now have that bright spot for the next several years.
Mahomes Out For The Foreseeable Future
It has been a bit of a frustrating season already for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. The star quarterback had been battling an ankle injury already, and it now appears that he will be out for at least a few weeks with a knee injury.
In Thursday night’s contest versus the Denver Broncos, Mahomes came out with a dislocated kneecap. After an MRI, it appears that while he will likely be able to return this season, it is likely that he will be out for a few weeks.
In his absence, Matt Moore will take over as the starting quarterback for head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs.
At 24, Mahomes has made quite a name for himself already in the NFL. He is arguably the best quarterback in the league and is at least one of the most exciting to watch.
This season for the 5-2 Chiefs, Mahomes has thrown for 2,180 yards with a .651 completion percentage, 15 touchdowns and just one interception.
Titans Pick To Play First Game
It is always tough for NFL teams to figure out who they want to pick for the NFL Draft. There are months of preparation and analysis and game film and interviews and so many other things that go into the decision.
For general managers and organizations, it is even tougher to pull the trigger on a young man when he isn’t able to play at the beginning of the season.
For the Tennessee Titans, that is exactly what they did when they took defensive end Jeffery Simmons in the first round with the 19th overall pick. Simmons, who was drafted out of Mississippi State, tore his ACL last February while getting ready for the draft.
Projected as a top-10 draft pick prior to the injury, he slid to 19th. Now the Titans are preparing to activate and start Simmons for his first NFL game. While the Titans’ offense is certainly a hot mess now, Simmons will be a big boost to a defense that ranks eighth in the NFL.
