The Miami Dolphins did not trade star cornerback Jalen Ramsey during the 2025 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean a move won’t happen before the start of the regular season. Once considered to be among the game’s elite players, Ramsey has slowed down a bit in his later years but remains an above-average starter. Appearing in all 17 games last year, the seven-time Pro Bowler finished the season with two interceptions, 11 passes defended, 60 tackles, and a 76.9 PFF grade, the 10th-best mark out of 116 eligible players.
Despite the impressive play, the Dolphins themselves announced they intended to trade Jalen Ramsey, and the star cornerback also welcomes the change of environment. While only time will tell where he lands, NFL Network’s Nick Shook believes the Baltimore Ravens could be an ideal fit.
“Although Baltimore’s CB room might seem crowded, if there’s any team that consistently kicks the tires on known veterans looking to chase a ring, it’s the Ravens. The financial side might not work out, but adding Ramsey would fit with the franchise’s tendency to welcome in proven players who have the change to make an instant impact.”
Ravens, Dolphins Linked In Jalen Ramsey Trade Rumors
As mentioned above, the Baltimore Ravens have plenty of cornerback depth and aren’t the obvious choice for a Jalen Ramsey trade. Veteran Marlon Humphrey had a strong 2024, finishing the year as PFF’s seventh-best cornerback. First-round pick Nate Wiggins, meanwhile, started off slow but finished the year on a high note and looks like a longtime fixture for this defense. This secondary is good enough to beat most teams, but an elite contender like Baltimore could use a third lockdown guy like Ramsey.
The Ravens share a division with Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals and must defeat them and the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills to reach the Super Bowl. Stopping three elite passing attacks isn’t easy, and a Jalen Ramsey trade could be the difference in winning those competitive contests. With Humphrey in the slot and Ramsey and Wiggins blanketing the outside, opposing quarterbacks won’t be able to find any open targets. This is a fantastic fit on paper, but is this feasibly possible?
Making the Logistics Work
According to OverTheCap, a Jalen Ramsey trade will come with its own financial hurdles. The cornerback currently carries a $16.6 million cap hit, but Miami will take on $25.2 million in dead money if they deal him before June 1st. However, if they wait until June 2nd, they can spread his dead money over multiple seasons and lower his dead cap to just $6.75 million in 2025. The Ravens, meanwhile, would be responsible for the remaining $9.91 million.
Ramsey is technically under contract until 2028, but he doesn’t have any guaranteed money beyond the 2025 season. This means he’s essentially playing on a one-year deal, and the cornerback will probably want a revised contract following his trade. If the Ravens aren’t amenable to this, it could sink a potential deal before it ever begins.
Even if the Ravens add more guaranteed money to Ramsey’s deal, the Dolphins probably won’t receive too much in a trade. While the cornerback is still an above-average starter, he’s on the wrong side of 30 and could be a one-year rental. The Ravens are projected to receive four compensatory picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so perhaps they send one of those selections to Baltimore in exchange for a player who could finally help them hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images
