Eagles CB Darius Slay (2) – Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

After months of speculation, the L.A. Rams officially hit the reset button, trading away the three-time First Team All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

The Miami Dolphins won the Ramsey sweepstakes Sunday morning. The six-time Pro-Bowler joins Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb as Pro-Bowl player’s the Dolphins have traded for in the past year.

The idea of the Rams trading away the superstar makes sense. After a 2022 season filled with injuries, aging veterans, disappointment, and more injuries, it’s apparent that, at this moment in time, the Rams are not contenders.

Before their Super Bowl run, Rams GM Les Snead used eight draft picks (four firsts) to acquire the likes of Matthew Stafford, Von Miller, and Jalen Ramsey, all key pieces to their championship team. It’s logical to flip these players again to regain the draft capital they used to obtain them. However, what’s illogical is the price the Dolphins snagged Ramsey at.

One third-round pick is all it took for Miami to be Ramsey’s new home. In 2019, the Rams traded away two first-round picks and a third-rounder to acquire the superstar CB. Since then, Ramsey hasn’t missed a Pro Bowl team and has been named to two All-Pro First Teams.

Why the Massive Drop in Trade Value?

Two words: age and money.

The 28-year-old is set to cost Miami $17 million in 2023, $18.5 million in 2024, and $19.5 million in 2025 before entering free agency in 2026 at the ripe age of 32.

Still, any contending team should want to add one of the best defensive players of the past decade in exchange for a third-round pick, right? Right, which is exactly what Miami did.

The Detroit Lions, who, in the eyes of many, are just a couple moves away from being an NFC contender, was the other team interested in trading for Ramsey.

Ramsey would have helped an improving Detroit defense. The Lions started the season off as the worst defense in NFL history. However, the team showed signs of life down the stretch due to the emergence of rookies Aidan Hutchinson (Edge), James Houston (Edge), and Kirby Joseph (Safety). The Lions will also get back captain Tracy Walker (Safety), who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 3. Plus, Detroit has both the 6th and 18th pick in this year’s NFL draft to improve the defense if they so choose.

So Why Didn’t Detroit Match the Offer for Ramsey?

Detroit fans may feel like the team missed an opportunity to add a superstar to the roster. However, there’s another cheaper superstar reported to be on the trade block whom the Lions should prefer to Ramsey.

Darius Slay, drafted by Detroit in 2013, is seeking a trade from Philadelphia if the two parties cannot strike another deal.

The 31-year-old veteran is coming off his fifth Pro Bowl season, in which he was a huge contributor to a Super Bowl caliber defense. The former Lion is in the final playing year of the contract he signed with Philadelphia in 2020. Slay is set to make $17 million in 2023.

The Eagles would like to sign Slay to a new contract, lowering his cap hit to the team. However, if more money is offered elsewhere, the Philly CB may have a new home by the start of the 2023 season.

Homecoming

Lions' CB Darius Slay will reportedly end holdout, start ...

Darius Slay celebrates a pass break up against Chicago, on Saturday, December 16, 2017. Photo Credit: Mike Mulholland

A homecoming for Slay and Detroit would be a dream come true for Lions fans. Adding an elite veteran to the secondary would fix numerous problems on the defensive side of the ball. Detroit could finally run more man-to-man, something the team shied away from last year because of personnel issues.

Slay plays with an edge. A chip on his shoulder. There are no off-the-field issues with this guy. Just a man who wants to play football. A perfect fit for the new Lions regime.

If Jalen Ramsey got traded for a third-round pick, expect Slay to go for even less (due to his age and the new contract that comes with him).

Darius Slay was a three-time Pro Bowler in his tenure with Detroit, including an appearance on the All-Pro First Team in 2017, when he led the league in interceptions with eight, and passes defended with 26.

Perhaps Detroit passed up on Ramsey altogether; because they have their eyes set on someone else.