When was Jalen Ramsey drafted? Tracing the career of the Dolphins' new cornerback
After an impressive college career, Jalen Ramsey entered the NFL world in 2016. The cornerback was drafted as the 5th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was the first of the five cornerbacks selected in the first round of the draft edition.
Ramsey was a product of the Florida State Seminoles football program. He was a crucial player for the team right from the beginning, starting all 14 games as a freshman. He became the first freshman cornerback to start a game for the Seminoles since Deion Sanders in 1985.
In what was a brilliant college career, Ramsey only missed a game for the Seminoles in his three seasons with the program. He played 41 games and recorded 181 combined tackles, 5.0 sacks, 22 passes defended, 3 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles in his three seasons with the team.
With the 5th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Jalen Ramsey. #JAXpick https://t.co/q70Euc3XZY
Jalen Ramsey's NFL Career Highlights
Ramsey signed a four-year rookie deal worth $23 million with the Jaguars in May 2016. Head coach Gus Bradley named him alongside Davon House as the team's starting cornerback in his rookie season. He immediately became an important player for the franchise.
Despite the Jaguars picking up the fifth-year option in his contract and starting the first three games of the 2019 season, Ramsey was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. The Jaguars received a first-round pick in the deal in 2020, as well as first-round and fourth-round picks in 2021.
Ramsey played the rest of the 2019 season with the Rams. He signed a five-year extension deal with the franchise in 2020. The contract was worth a total of $105 million, which included $71.2 million guaranteed. This made him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.
After another impressive stint with the Rams, which saw him win the Super Bowl in 2021, it was reported on Sunday that Ramsey will be joining the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a third-round pick in next month's draft and tight end Hunter Long. Ramsey, who has made the Pro Bowl in six of his seven seasons in the NFL, will make the Dolphins his third team in the league.
BREAKING: Rams trade CB Jalen Ramsey to the Dolphins. Rams get a 2023 third-round pick and TE Hunter Long. (via @rapsheet, @tompelissero) https://t.co/vDNyuevUo1
2016 Draft Summary and Notable Players
A total of 253 college players were selected over 7 rounds in the 2016 draft edition. This included 36 linebackers, 31 wide receivers, 32 wide receivers, and 22 offensive tackles. There were also 19 running backs, 19 safeties, 18 defensive ends, and 15 quarterbacks.
The Cleveland Browns made the most selections in the draft with 14, while the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers selected the least number of players with just 5 picks. Ohio State had the most players drafted with 12, followed by Clemson and UCLA, who had 9 and 8 players respectively.
Aside from Jalen Ramsey, notable players selected in the 2016 draft include quarterback Jared Goff, defensive end Joey Bosa, running back Ezekiel Elliot, quarterback Carson Wentz, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, running back Derrick Henry, wide receiver Michael Thomas, quarterback Dak Prescott, and wide receiver Tyreek Hill.