Miami and one of its defensive stars appear open to a split.
The Dolphins and cornerback Jalen Ramsey are mutually set to explore trade options and it wouldn't be a surprise if he played elsewhere this upcoming season, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday morning.
Later Tuesday, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters during his scheduled pre-draft news conference that Ramsey did not ask to be traded, but the decision came after "numerous conversations" between the two camps.
"We decided it was probably in the best interest for all parties to move forward," Grier said.
Grier, however, did indicate the Ramsey appears to be only star player exiting South Beach, telling reporters that a possible Tyreek Hill trade "is not anything that we're pursuing."
Ramsey, who was acquired by the Dolphins after the 2022 season from the Los Angeles Rams for a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long, maintained his stellar defensive reputation upon his arrival in Miami -- although his first year did not come without adversity. A knee injury forced Ramsey to sit for the first seven games of his Dolphins tenure, yet he still managed to earn his seventh Pro Bowl honor.
Ramsey then agreed to a three-year, $72.3 million contract extension to remain in Miami, making him the NFL's highest-paid cornerback at the time. However, what followed was a down year for the defender's standard in 2024, appearing in every game but missing out on the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2019. Ramsey has seen the CB market rise since then, and his contract was surpassed this offseason by Derek Stingley Jr. and Jaycee Horn's extensions from the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
A three-time All-Pro, Ramsey's currently due $25.1 million fully guaranteed in 2025. Rapoport added that the Dolphins already paid a $4 million roster bonus, so a new team would only pick up $21.1 million this season.
Miami signed CBs Artie Burns and Ifeatu Melifonwu during free agency. The Dolphins also roster Kader Kohou, Elijah Campbell and Storm Duck, who all made at least one start last season. However, they released Kendall Fuller, who was second in CB starts behind Ramsey in 2024 with 11.
General manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel could use the 2025 NFL Draft to bolster their CB ranks -- especially if a Ramsey trade comes to fruition. Miami currently holds the No. 13 overall pick and nine other selections to potentially fortify its defense.
There is no firm deadline on a potential trade, Rapoport added, but with the draft nine days away, completing a swap ahead of next Thursday makes sense so Miami can use the assets they acquire to bolster the roster ahead of this season.
Grier said on Tuesday that he does not have an expectation that a potential trade could be executed before the draft.
"I don't know. Trades come together in all different times," Grier said. "We've seen from before the draft, during the draft. … When it happens it will happen. If it doesn't, we'll deal with it then."
If Ramsey's tenure in Miami indeed comes to an end, the 30-year-old will finish his South Beach stint with 82 tackles, 16 passes defended, six tackles for loss and five interceptions in two seasons.
