The Jacksonville Jaguars could still use help at cornerback even after signing Jourdan Lewis in free agency. They will have a wide array of options in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Miami Dolphins just made yet another one available. One the Jags are familiar with.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that the Phins and Jalen Ramsey have agreed to explore trade options, adding that he's set to make $25.1 million fully guaranteed in 2025.
On a later tweet, Rapoport added that there's no firm deadline to trade Ramsey, but getting a deal done before the draft would be the ideal outcome. This would allow the Dolphins to use whatever assets they get to bolster other needs. They currently hold the No. 13 pick, which they could use to find a potential replacement for the All-Pro cornerback.
Ramsey went to Jacksonville with the fifth overall selection in 2016 and became one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL right off the bat. However, he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams following a contract impasse in 2020. The Jags got two first-round picks (and a fourth) in exchange for the Florida State Seminole. Unfortunately, they weren't able to maximize the assets they got.
One of the first-round picks became K'Lavon Chaisson, and the other was used on Travis Etienne. The former left in 2023, and the latter is probably entering his last season with the Black & Teal. Meanwhile, Ramsey went on to win a Super Bowl in LA and enjoyed success with both the Rams and Miami.
Jalen Ramsey's streak of consecutive Pro Bowls came to an end in 2024. Before that, he had earned a designation for seven straight years, alongside three First-Team All-Pro nods.
Why the Jaguars should pass on Jalen Ramsey
There's no doubt that Ramsey can still play at a high level despite not making the playoffs last year. The teams in need of cornerback help should give the Miami Dolphins a call. The Jacksonville Jaguars shouldn't be one of them for a handful of reasons.
The biggest roadblock to getting a trade done will be his salary. The Dolphins may need to take on some of it. Moreover, they probably won't get anything better than a third for him. If anything, the main goal of a potential trade would be to unload his massive cap hit. And that's the thing: maybe if he were in his prime, clubs would be lined up to have a shot at landing him, but he's not.
Maybe if Ramsey had a more affordable salary, he would be a fit in Jacksonville. After all, the regime that shipped him to Los Angeles is long gone, and it's possible that time will help him mend his relationship with the Jags.
On the other hand, Ramsey is a proven commodity, but he would be considerably more expensive than whatever cornerback the Jags decide to get in the draft. It's also worth noting that Ramsey may be a better fit for a contender, and Jacksonville simply isn't one right now.
The bottom line is the Jaguars will be looking to ways to improve the roster in the upcoming weeks, but trading for Jalen Ramsey is one path they probably won't be exploring.