Jalen Ramsey’s time in Miami may be winding down, but for now, the Dolphins are in a holding pattern.
Multiple teams are expressing interest in trading for the veteran cornerback, but Miami’s unwillingness to eat any of the guaranteed money in his contract has become a sticking point, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. That financial hesitation is reportedly what’s slowing down negotiations, as interested teams aren’t keen on taking on Ramsey’s full salary without some help.
Ramsey signed a three-year, $72.3 million deal with the Dolphins in 2024, and with cap space at a premium league-wide, it’s no surprise teams are pushing back on absorbing the entire number.
Despite the roadblock, ESPN’s Adam Schefter (per Barry Jackson) says interest in Ramsey is far greater than many around the league realize. The Dolphins haven’t agreed to any deal yet, but Schefter notes that if one is reached soon, it likely wouldn’t be announced until after June 1 due to cap reasons. A post-June 1st deal would save Miami $10 million in cap savings over a pre-June 1st trade.
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A return to Los Angeles — where Ramsey became a household name and helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI — continues to generate the most buzz, but sources indicate multiple teams are doing their due diligence. At age 30, Ramsey remains one of the most accomplished defensive backs in the league and a valuable commodity for any contender looking to upgrade its secondary.
Ramsey played in all 17 games for Miami last season, registering 60 tackles, two interceptions, one sack, and 11 passes defended. While the Dolphins fell short of expectations overall, Ramsey’s individual performance remained solid.
For now, Miami appears content to wait — betting that a team will eventually blink and meet their financial terms. But if not, the Dolphins may be forced to decide whether unloading Ramsey’s contract is worth more than holding the line on principle. Either way, with interest continuing to build, a post-June trade feels increasingly possible — if not inevitable.
