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The Miami Dolphins and seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey could be parting ways soon after the two sides mutually agreed to begin exploring trade options.
The biggest questions raised by the possibility of a split from Ramsey are:
The answer to the first question could be that the Dolphins are making an effort to deleverage and better position themselves for seasons beyond 2025. Ramsey's contract, which is set to void in 2029, carries more than $100 million in combined salary cap charges in the 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons.
While that likely explains the Dolphins' willingness to part with the 30-year-old veteran, it doesn't make Ramsey a valuable trade asset.
Miami acquired Ramsey in a 2023 trade with the Los Angeles Rams for tight end Hunter Long and a third-round pick. Now two years older and coming off an unimpressive season by his lofty standards, Ramsey presumably won't fetch a higher return this time around.
Then again, none of his salary is guaranteed beyond the 2025 season. That'd leave Ramsey's potential new team with flexibility and a reasonably priced defensive star whose $10 million base salary in the next two years isn't a scary price tag to absorb.
Trade value prediction: 2025 fourth-round pick
Washington Commanders
The Commanders have every reason to be aggressive after Jayden Daniels wasted no time emerging as a superstar in 2024. With the quarterback on a rookie contract for at least a couple more seasons, Washington already made big moves to acquire Laremy Tunsil, Deebo Samuel, and Marshon Lattimore. Still, there's room for more as the Commanders try to get their defense up to speed with their suddenly explosive and star-studded offense.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals entered 2025 with copious amounts of salary cap space and used it to make big upgrades on defense with additions like Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and former Dolphins lineman Calais Campbell. But for now, the team's best options on the outside at cornerback are Sean Murphy-Bunting, Starling Thomas, and Max Melton.
Los Angeles Rams
When the Rams traded away Ramsey a couple years ago, it seemed a rebuild was coming for the franchise. Lo and behold, a couple great drafts restocked the defense with promising young players like Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Bryon Young, and Kamren Kinchens. Now Los Angeles could bring back a veteran who once shined in the Rams defense to shore up a leaky secondary.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals dished out huge money to its receivers, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, in Cincinnati, but it's the team's defense that needs work after finishing No. 25 in the NFL in 2024.
Green Bay Packers
Signing Nate Hobbs was a big move at cornerback for the Packers, but the team may soon need to make another one with Jaire Alexander seemingly headed out of town. Adding Ramsey would result in a ton of cap space dedicated to the cornerback position, but that could be worth it to a team that's knocking on the door of Super Bowl contention.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Jalen Ramsey trade: How much Dolphins CB could fetch, 5 landing spots
Continue reading...
The biggest questions raised by the possibility of a split from Ramsey are:
- Why now? The Dolphins would actually lose salary cap space in 2025 by shipping the star cornerback elsewhere.
- Who will start at cornerback? The team's best options after Ramsey are Storm Duck, Kader Kohou, Cam Smith, Artie Burns, and Ethan Bonner.
The answer to the first question could be that the Dolphins are making an effort to deleverage and better position themselves for seasons beyond 2025. Ramsey's contract, which is set to void in 2029, carries more than $100 million in combined salary cap charges in the 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons.
While that likely explains the Dolphins' willingness to part with the 30-year-old veteran, it doesn't make Ramsey a valuable trade asset.
Miami acquired Ramsey in a 2023 trade with the Los Angeles Rams for tight end Hunter Long and a third-round pick. Now two years older and coming off an unimpressive season by his lofty standards, Ramsey presumably won't fetch a higher return this time around.
Then again, none of his salary is guaranteed beyond the 2025 season. That'd leave Ramsey's potential new team with flexibility and a reasonably priced defensive star whose $10 million base salary in the next two years isn't a scary price tag to absorb.
Trade value prediction: 2025 fourth-round pick
Potential landing spots
Washington Commanders
The Commanders have every reason to be aggressive after Jayden Daniels wasted no time emerging as a superstar in 2024. With the quarterback on a rookie contract for at least a couple more seasons, Washington already made big moves to acquire Laremy Tunsil, Deebo Samuel, and Marshon Lattimore. Still, there's room for more as the Commanders try to get their defense up to speed with their suddenly explosive and star-studded offense.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals entered 2025 with copious amounts of salary cap space and used it to make big upgrades on defense with additions like Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and former Dolphins lineman Calais Campbell. But for now, the team's best options on the outside at cornerback are Sean Murphy-Bunting, Starling Thomas, and Max Melton.
Los Angeles Rams
When the Rams traded away Ramsey a couple years ago, it seemed a rebuild was coming for the franchise. Lo and behold, a couple great drafts restocked the defense with promising young players like Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Bryon Young, and Kamren Kinchens. Now Los Angeles could bring back a veteran who once shined in the Rams defense to shore up a leaky secondary.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals dished out huge money to its receivers, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, in Cincinnati, but it's the team's defense that needs work after finishing No. 25 in the NFL in 2024.
Green Bay Packers
Signing Nate Hobbs was a big move at cornerback for the Packers, but the team may soon need to make another one with Jaire Alexander seemingly headed out of town. Adding Ramsey would result in a ton of cap space dedicated to the cornerback position, but that could be worth it to a team that's knocking on the door of Super Bowl contention.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Jalen Ramsey trade: How much Dolphins CB could fetch, 5 landing spots
Continue reading...
