Jalen Ramsey remains a trade candidate to watch as the Dolphins look to find a landing spot for him. Efforts on that front will, to no surprise, be influenced in large part by the finances of the situation. 
Ramsey has four years remaining on his contract, including $21.1MM in outstanding guarantees for the 2025 campaign. In the eyes of many observers, the Dolphins are therefore in a position where retaining a portion of that compensation will be required to swing a trade. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported during a Sunday SportsCenter appearance, however, that the team “has not been overly eager” to do so at this point (h/t Bleacher Report).
At least some suitors have known about Ramsey’s availability dating back to the Combine, but a trade agreement has not seen particularly close at any given time. A major reason for that is the fact interested teams are not prepared to take on the 30-year-old’s contract in full. The Dolphins would benefit greatly – from a cap perspective – by trading Ramsey after June 1, so plenty of time remains for their negotiating stance to shift as talks continue.
A parting of ways became known as a mutual desire in mid-April, with tension between Ramsey and head coach Mike McDaniel serving as the reason why a trade could soon be in store. Miami already released fellow 2024 starter Kendall Fuller, meaning a veteran addition during the post-draft wave of free agency could be in store. The team’s CB depth chart would look much different without Ramsey in the fold, something which was not supposed to be a feasible scenario after a big-ticket extension was worked out last offseason.
The seven-time Pro Bowler was limited to 10 games by a knee injury in 2023, but he rebounded with a full campaign last year. Ramsey’s ball production (two interceptions, 11 pass deflections) fell short of what it has been in previous years, but he will still be counted on to serve as a crucial element of his next team’s secondary. A reacquisition on the part of the Rams is indeed something to watch for, per Fowler, as Ramsey looks to join a contender for 2025.
Los Angeles currently has $19.86MM in cap space, although a portion of that figure will be needed to sign the team’s draft class. Landing Ramsey will still likely require assistance from the Dolphins with respect to retaining money, but Miami’s stance on that front will need to change over the coming weeks compared to where it is now.