The NFL trade market is heating up, and Jalen Ramsey, the three-time All-Pro cornerback, is at the center of the storm. With rumors swirling about his next destination, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently shed light on the teams vying for Ramsey’s services, while also addressing the Minnesota Vikings’ potential interest in the star defender. Despite Ramsey’s undeniable talent and familiarity with key members of the Vikings’ coaching staff, his hefty $24 million guaranteed salary for 2025 appears to be a significant hurdle for Minnesota.
Fowler, speaking on KFAN-FM 100.3, indicated that the Vikings have considered pursuing Ramsey but are hesitant due to the financial implications. “I’ve thought about that with the Vikings. I did check on that. I do not, unless something changes with the money, then maybe they would get involved. From what I was told, the money would sort of be a non-starter for Minnesota,” Fowler said. While he didn’t completely rule out the possibility, he noted that the Vikings are not among the frontrunners, stating, “I wouldn’t totally take it off the table, but I don’t have them on my short list.”
Instead, Fowler pointed to the Los Angeles Rams as the favorites to land Ramsey, with the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders also in the mix. “I still have the Rams, and then it’s hard to figure out which team is going to be the mystery team. Seattle interests me because they have been looking at free agent corners and they wanted to draft a corner and didn’t, so they still have a need there. And then Washington, from what I’ve heard, at least looked into it at one point,” Fowler explained. He added that Ramsey’s $24 million guaranteed salary is a sticking point for many teams, but the Rams appear willing to navigate the financial hurdle, possibly due to their prior history with the star cornerback.
Ramsey’s connection to the Rams runs deep. He was a key part of their 2022 Super Bowl-winning team that defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This connection extends to the Vikings’ coaching staff, as five current members were with the Rams during the 2021-22 season: head coach Kevin O’Connell (offensive coordinator), offensive coordinator Wes Phillips (tight ends coach and pass game coordinator), senior offensive assistant Chris O’Hara (offensive assistant), outside linebackers coach Thad Bogardus (assistant linebackers coach), and defensive line coach Marcus Dixon (assistant defensive line coach). This familiarity could make Ramsey an ideal fit for Minnesota’s defensive scheme, but the financial logistics remain a significant obstacle.
Last week, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune suggested that the Vikings shouldn’t be entirely ruled out from the Ramsey sweepstakes. “You’d have to figure out how you’d make that work financially, but if they could figure that out, I wouldn’t rule it out. I think it’s certainly worth keeping in mind just because of the need and the familiarity with him from a lot of that coaching staff having been with him with the Rams,” Goessling noted. The Vikings’ secondary could certainly benefit from a player of Ramsey’s caliber, especially given their ongoing need for a lockdown corner.
Fowler believes a trade for Ramsey could materialize soon, stating, “I do think it’ll get done. I just don’t know what it’s going to look like financially. But I know he’s supposed to get traded in somewhat short order, so I think in the next week or two I could see it coming together.” For the Vikings, missing out on Ramsey could be a decision they come to regret, especially if he lands with a division rival like the Seahawks or strengthens a contender like the Rams or Commanders. With the trade market moving quickly, Minnesota will need to weigh the cost against the potential reward of adding a game-changer like Ramsey to their roster.