The Patriots need to follow this proven track record of success
Jalen Ramsey is on the block. The Patriots are in need of a #1 corner back. Belichick has proven he can create an elite defensive unit when he has elite talent at the CB position. The cost doesn’t seem unbearable. This seems like a no brainer.
“Doesn’t he fill that Stephon Gilmore, that big, physical, Ty Law type of cornerback? It’d be sort of at a discount, and that’s where Bill [Belichick] likes to swoop in,” Rosenthal said on a recent episode of the “Around the NFL” podcast. SOURCE
Lets take a look at the particulars
Track record:
As Mentioned the Patriots have a proven history of trading for or signing #1 CBs. Dating back to the trade for Aquib Talib from the Bucs. Talib at the time was considered a distressed asset with an attitude problem and felt like he was playing his way out of the league. The Patriots gave him new life and if not for injuries he most likely gets a ring with them. Most memorably he was deployed against Jimmy Graham and shut him down. It was the first insight into how creative Bill would get with elite talent at that spot
Darrell Revis was next. Another former Buc who had gone to Florida for the money and watched his career dip. Revis was forced to play a lot of zone in Tampa which is blasphemy for one of the greatest Man v Man corners in NFL history. Belichick gave him a few weeks to get his feet wet with the Pats and then we saw the defense that would lead the Patriots to their first Super Bowl win in 10 years. Belichick stuck Revis on the opposing teams #2 WR and had bracket coverage on their #1 target. Another wrinkle from the defensive wizard
Stephon Gilmore was the largest contract the Patriots ever gave a free agent and the largest contract for a CB in NFL history. In short. It was worth it. All he did was step in where Revis left off winning two Super Bowls and a DPOY.
Ty Law was not a trade or free agent, but of course he is the corner stone to this philosophy. And another shinging example of how important that position is to a Belichick defense. Throw Asante Samuel in the mix some where too.
From the other side of things look at how the defense performed in the years from Asante to Aqib. Not great. The bend don’t break only worked because Brady was slinging the rock around at an ALL time pace.
Cost
The proposed package for Ramsey includes two draft picks. The highest being a 1st round this year with a 4th rounder or player attached
It’s likely that it won’t cost nearly as much for a team to trade for Ramsey this time, considering he’s four years older now, and the Rams have a more pressing need to trade him.
However, one NFL analyst projects that the Patriots would have to give up at least a first-round pick in a trade for Ramsey. NFL Network’s Gregg Rosenthal proposed a deal in which the Patriots give up their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (No. 14 overall) plus veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne for Ramsey. SOURCE
I’ll admit that would be tough pill to swallow given the needs in other areas of the roster. However, if they can swing a 2nd instead I’m in. Even if they have to defer that 1st rounder to next year it’s worth it.
Things get a little more interesting if the Rams would end up settling for a second-rounder and a fourth.
The Patriots would still have their first-round pick to address their offensive line situation, and they could use the second-round pick to snag one of the best corners in the game to add to a defensive backfield that already has Jack Jones and Marcus Jones. SOURCE
Ramsey has a $17 million base salary for the 2023 season as he enters just the third season of his five-year, $105 million deal. Tack on some dummy years with an extension to knock the cap cost down and call it macaroni.
The Player
“Ramsey’s cumulative 90.6 coverage grade over the past three seasons ranks second among cornerbacks, and his 91.2 run-defense grade ranks first. His 80.3 coverage grade from the slot over the past three seasons ranks fifth,” Spielberger wrote of Ramsey’s value. “There are a lot of elite, young cornerbacks in the league right now, but Ramsey still holds the crown as the best defensive back in the NFL as of today.”
Ramsey recorded career highs in tackles (88), sacks (two), passes defended (18), and forced fumbles (three) while tying a career-high with four interceptions in 2022, earning his sixth Pro Bowl nod.
Need I say more? This guy fits the mold. Plus he’s kind of an asshole which you should like in a lock down CB. More to the point it’s as much as a sure thing as you will find in the NFL. Input #1CB into Bill Belichick defense and expect elite performances and deep playoff runs. Get it done Bill.