The Miami Dolphins look ready to move on from Jalen Ramsey. According to insider Ian Rapoport, from NFL Network, the team and the player are mutually set to explore trade options, and he might be on the move once again in his NFL career before the 2025 season.
Shocking process
The decision to potentially move on from Ramsey is particularly surprising because the Dolphins have already paid his $4 million roster bonus, so this amount will be dead money for Miami if it trades the cornerback. The acquiring team would pay the remaining $21.1 million guaranteed salary.
If a trade happens before June 1st, the Dolphins would actually lose $32.787 million in cap space, because his prorated bonuses would accelerate into this year's cap. That makes a trade before the draft extremely difficult, even though it would be helpful to have extra draft capital as soon as possible. Right now, his cap hit for 2025 is $16.661 million.
In the case Ramsey gets traded after June 1st, the acceleration doesn't come before next year, so it would be more palatable for the Dolphins.
At the moment, the Dolphins have $16.516 million in cap space. The team has the fourth-lowest amount of projected space for 2026, $4.878 million, and that's with 41 players under contract.
Miami acquired Ramsey from the Los Angeles Rams two years ago for a third-round pick and backup tight end Hunter Long. Over the past two years, he's been one of the premier pieces of the team's defensive structure. Last season, he played all 17 games after missing seven games in 2023.
Depth issues
Financially, it makes sense to trade Jalen Ramsey based on the Dolphins' short- and long-term salary cap outlook. However, it would also bring a huge issue for the cornerback room.
Right now, the Dolphins already have a need at the position, and the only free agent additions were Artie Burns and Bump Cooper Jr., who aren't more than depth signings.
Beyond Ramsey, the room has Kader Kohou, Cam Smith, Ethan Bonner, Storm Duck, Isaiah Johnson, and Jason Maitre.
