June 1 is a significant day on the calendar for the NFL, as it is the day when further reshuffling of rosters tends to happen.
After June 1, some of the clauses in players’ contracts for automatic restructuring of the deal trigger, resulting in the financial savings of moving on increasing substantially. This gives teams time to explore other options, keeping highly-paid players on their roster as placeholders before giving them the flexibility to move on if they reach a solution. For teams in need of salary cap relief, June 1 is when they can move on from players occupying a large portion of their cap space.
With $36 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, the Las Vegas Raiders are one of the teams poised to take advantage of the misfortunes of their contemporaries.
The post-June 1 window could be where the Raiders seize a tremendous opportunity to land a big player.
In his list of major players who can be traded or released after June 1, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin linked three players to the Raiders: Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, as well as Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander.
Out of the three, however, the only one he has leaving their current team is Ramsey, and Benjamin predicts that the former All-Pro cornerback will land with the Raiders.
“Another high-profile Dolphins veteran whose age and salary could result in a summer split, Ramsey has reportedly been anticipating an exit for a while, despite just signing a $72 million extension last September,” wrote Benjamin. “He might soon get his wish of a clean slate, as Miami can save close to $10 million by trading the cornerback after June 1 as opposed to losing $8.5 million by dealing the former Los Angeles Rams star prior to June 1. All signs point to Ramsey playing elsewhere in 2025.”
With the Raiders secondary seeing severe changes, adding Ramsey gives the new-look defensive backfield instant credibility.
Ramsey made four straight Pro Bowls from 2020-23, so he is still very much capable of playing at a high level. The Raiders did add Eric Stokes in free agency and drafted Darien Porter in the third round, but both project more as complementary pieces than options for the top cornerback. Adding Ramsey allows Las Vegas to take the pressure off of them, as well as internal options such as Jakorian Bennett.
If the Dolphins are willing to part with Ramsey for a reasonable rate, the talented cornerback could end up headed west to Las Vegas.
