When you look at the Minnesota Vikings roster, there are a couple of positions that make a lot of sense. The main one that gets pointed out is cornerback, as there are a lot of questions after not addressing the position in the NFL Draft.
One player that has been continuously mentioned is Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey. They have made it known that he is available via trade, and the idea of the Vikings making a move for him was broached by beat writer Ben Goessling during an appearance on KFAN radio on Tuesday morning.
"I think it's certainly worth keeping in mind, because there's that history with Kevin O'Connell. He won a Super Bowl with Kevin O'Connell. And I think there would be a need there. Certainly, you have to figure out how you have to make that work financially. But if they can figure that out, you know, I wouldn't rule it out. I think it's it's certainly worth keeping in mind, just because of the need and the familiarity with him from a lot of that coaching staff have been with him with the ramps."
Vikings could target Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey is a supremely talented player, but there are some interesting caveats to consider when potentially bringing him him.
- He's on the wrong side of 30 (will turn 31 in October)
- Ramsey will cost $21 million on the salary cap this season for any team trading for him
Over the weekend, I wrote about specifically trading for Ramsey, which gets significantly easier after June 1st from a financial perspective for the Dolphins, and I came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be in their best interests.
With cornerback being a weak-link position, they can manage with the guys they currently have, or find another cornerback to trade for who would be less expensive than what Ramsey will end up costing. Are you willing to give up a young cornerback like Blackmon and a draft pick to facilitate the move? It won't be cheap, as Ramsey is still highly viewed across the league.
With Ramsey already on the downswing of his career, this could be a detrimental move for the Vikings.
A trade would not just cost you assets, but taking on that contract for what could amount to being a one-year rental would be a tough sell right now. However, if the Dolphins were to cut him, he's absolutely worth looking at if the price is right.
Ramsey would certainly be a starter in this defense, and wouldn't always have to go against the top guy on the opposing team with the presence of Byron Murphy Jr. It would be an interesting move for the Vikings to make, but their moves up to this point have signaled that now is the time for the Super Bowl push. Plus, O'Connell has a history of bringing in players who played on the Los Angeles Rams during his time there, and this wouldn't be any different.
Making this kind of splash during the summer would be a ballsy one, but one that would put the NFL on notice.
