UPDATE: The trade is now agreed to and will be processed on Wednesday at the start of the new league year, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In return for Ramsey, the Rams will receive a third-round pick at No. 77 overall and tight end Hunter Long. Long, a former third-round pick out of Boston College, has registered just one reception in his NFL career. The Rams are surely hoping a change of scenery can help him live up to his pre-draft promise. In addition to acquiring Ramsey, Rapoport reported that the team is giving him an adjusted contract that fully guarantees him $36.9 million over the next two years.
Per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Los Angeles Rams are “in talks” to trade former All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins. Ramsey has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason as the Rams try to shed cap space after a disappointing 5-12 season coming off the heels of a Super Bowl win two seasons ago.
While the trade is not yet finalized, ESPN’s Josina Anderson said a league source told her there’s a high likelihood the trade happens. Obviously, that would eliminate the Steelers as a potential landing spot for Ramsey. Pittsburgh was never going to make a move for the high-priced cornerback, but given their clear need at corner they were occasionally linked to Ramsey.
For Miami, Ramsey will likely replace the spot vacated by Byron Jones, who the team will release on March 15. Ramsey will pair with Xavien Howard to form a top cornerback duo as the Dolphins try to get back to the postseason for the second season in a row. Trading Ramsey frees over $5 million in cap space for the Rams, who also released linebacker Bobby Wagner in a cap-clearing move earlier this offseason. As the Rams opted to trade Ramsey before June 1, they will incur a $19.6 million dead money charge, as Dave Bryan lays out in a piece worth reading about Ramsey’s contract situation.
For his part, Ramsey seems excited about the trade, tweeting out a celebratory video with the caption MOOD.
The Steelers do not play the Dolphins in 2023, meaning the Steelers will not see Ramsey this year. They do play the Rams, and the loss of Ramsey certainly weakens Los Angeles’ secondary as of now.
