Ramsey overjoyed to link up with Rams

THOUSAND OAKS » The Los Angeles Rams fully understand the risks they took in acquiring volatile cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

The defending NFC champions believe the potential rewards are well worth it.

“You want guys with some swag, some personality,” coach Sean McVay said Wednesday while he awaited the star cornerback’s arrival at their training complex. “As long as those guys love football, they love competing every single day, I think this is a building that will suit him well.”

Ramsey flew to the West Coast on Wednesday, a day after Los Angeles traded two firstround picks and a fourthrounder for an elite defender whose tumultuous tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t last four full seasons.

On his Uninterrupted podcast on SiriusXM’s app, Ramsey pronounced himself “overjoyed” to be with the Rams, and eager to “show them that they got the best corner in the whole NFL for years and years to come.”

The Rams are sold on Ramsey’s talent — and convinced of their own ability to channel it into a big role on a winning team. General manager Les Snead said he has already spoken to Ramsey’s representatives about his future beyond his current contract, which ends in 2020, and that both sides were encouraged by the conversation.

“We actually did talk to his representatives and give our long-term view, and (get) his,” Snead said. “We did put a little bit of a timeline in place. I don’t want to give too many details on that, but we’re just meeting Jalen today. He has earned a chance to probably get a nice contract for the job he does and the position he plays.”

Ramsey agrees, as he demonstrated in July when he showed up to training camp with the Jaguars in an armored bank truck. The Rams have time to figure out a number that works for both — but they have less time to turn around a season that has stalled.

McVay is hopeful Ramsey will play Sunday at Atlanta when the Rams (3-3) attempt to end their first three-game losing streak since 2016, although the corner will need a medical exam first. Ramsey missed the Jaguars’ last three games with a back injury but returned to practice recently.

“You know the caliber of player that he is — the competitiveness, the toughness,” McVay said. “Really all the traits that you look for in a corner. Looking forward to getting to know the player and figuring out how he’s going to help this football team.”

Although Ramsey won’t be rushed, the Rams need reinforcements in their secondary. Along with starting cornerback Marcus Peters’ departure in a trade to Baltimore on Tuesday, the Rams put two starters in their secondary — cornerback Aqib Talib and safety John Johnson — on injured reserve this week.