Jalen Ramsey is known to be on the trade block as the countdown to the draft continues. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier confirmed the team is open to moving on from the All-Pro corner even though no trade request was submitted.
It was earlier this week that the mutual desire between team and player to work out a trade went public, but at least some in the league have known about this situation for several weeks. One source informed Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports they were aware of Miami’s desire to move on dating back to the Combine. It will be interesting to see if the coming days spark an increase in Ramsey’s market.
On that note, Jones adds some see the decision to go public with Ramsey’s situation as an indication suitors are not prepared to make a serious push at this point. Any number of teams would see their pass defenses improve with the seven-time Pro Bowler in the fold, but finances are of course a sticking point with respect to a deal being worked out. Four years remain on Ramsey’s contract, one which was extended last offseason. He is owed $21.1MM in guarantees for 2025 in addition to what he has already been paid.
As could be expected, Jones reports interested teams are not prepared to take on that amount in full as a condition of a Ramsey trade agreement. The Dolphins would be dealt a significant cap charge in the event a trade were to be worked out before June 1 (whereas the dead money could be spread out across two years if Ramsey were to be dealt after that date). Grier and Co. are nonetheless willing to move forward with a trade at any time, per Jones, but retaining money will be needed as things currently stand.
At the age of 30, Ramsey will face questions about his ability to remain a high-end cover man moving forward. The former fifth overall pick also missed seven games in 2023 due to a knee injury, although he managed to rebound with a full campaign last season. Still, that could give an acquiring team reason to pursue a restructure which lowers Ramsey’s compensation for 2026 and beyond. Before that becomes possible, terms on a trade will need to be agreed to.
While Grier left the door open to Ramsey remaining in Miami – a team which already cut fellow CB starter Kendall Fuller this offseason – a deal sending him to a fourth career squad remains something to watch for. A willingness on the part of the Dolphins to retain compensation would no doubt boost his market over the coming days, but a post-draft trade should not be counted out.
