The Rams have agreed to trade CB Jalen Ramsey to the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson first reported that the two sides were deep in talks and that a deal seemed likely.
Miami is acquiring Ramsey in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 77, specifically) in this year’s draft, along with tight end Hunter Long. The ‘Fins will now be on the hook for the remainder of Ramsey’s contract, which runs through 2025.
The 28-year-old was scheduled to carry cap hits ranging from $22.7MM to $26.7MM over the next three years, figures which would represent a significant burden to any acquiring team. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets that his contract has been re-worked upon the deal being finalized. As a result, Ramsey has been given an additional $25MM in guaranteed compensation on top of what he was already owed in salary and bonuses, though his impact on Miami’s cap sheet may likely be lessened as well. 
The Rams’ acquisition of the former top-five pick in 2019 was one of several blockbuster deals the team made as part of their aggressive approach to trades and free agency in recent years. It helped them earn a Super Bowl title, but has now put them in a financial situation where notable departures are set to continue dominating their offseason. Edge rusher Leonard Floyd has already been released, and the same will be true of linebacker Bobby Wagner once the new league year begins.
Once the news came out that Wagner’s Los Angeles tenure would end after only one season, it was reported that a trade sending Ramsey out of town was expected to take place. The light return the Rams are receiving compared to the price they paid to acquire him from the Jaguars (a pair of first-round picks, along with a fourth-rounder), along with what they were reportedly seeking in a deal, speaks to how urgently they wanted to offload his contract before the start of free agency.
The Florida State alum remained productive in what amounted to a disastrous 2022 season for the Rams. He recorded four interceptions and 18 pass breakups while being one of few key players able to stay healthy for the entire campaign. While his coverage stats were the worst of his three full seasons in Los Angeles, Ramsey will still return to Florida carrying significant expectations.
The Dolphins took a step forward on offense last season, the first with head coach Mike McDaniel in place. Their defense struggled, however, particularly against the pass. Miami ranked 27th in passing yards allowed per game, and 29th in interceptions, pointing to a need to add to their secondary. That became especially true when it was learned that cornerback Byron Jones – who missed the entire 2022 campaign due to injury – was unlikely to play again in the NFL. He will be released once the new league year begins on Wednesday.
Ramsey will provide an upgrade to a CB room which already features Xavien Howard. Those two, along with versatile safety Jevon Holland, will anchor the Dolphins’ secondary as their defense enters a new era under DC Vic Fangio. The veteran staffer came back to the coaching ranks this offseason on a deal which makes him the highest-paid coordinator in the league. His presence should allow for a rebound defensively for the Dolphins, who still qualified for the postseason in 2022 despite their underwhelming performance on that side of the ball and quarterback injuries.
Long, a third-round pick in 2021, has made just one catch across 16 games spent with the Dolphins. He will provide depth at the TE position for the Rams, while creating a further roster hole at that spot for Miami. Mike Gesicki is widely expected to depart in free agency after his usage took a step back within McDaniel’s new scheme. While the Dolphins will likely be active replacing him and Long, they have landed a major addition to their defense for the intermediate future.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
LFG!!
Dolphins always get all the cool players in offseason ,
but never a top QB
and take a round 1 exit ,
rinse repeat
This is true. They need a solid backup like Minshew or Wentz for when Tua inevitably gets hurt again.
or Tom
Thank god
They’ve gone from “ F them picks” to “F, we need some picks!” LOL.
Les Snead should be fired just for that stupid take.
Won a Super Bowl and he didn’t create that take. Someone said it for him and he rolled with it
Nonsense. He did exactly what he was tasked to do and now it is time to start over.
Exactly. They Rams won the jackpot. Their moves paid off no matter what anyone says! Now it’s time to start over…maybe not from scratch but the crazy trades are prob done. They need fresh blood.
I suppose it paid off, but they had been trying that route for years only to finish short. I suppose most people are satisfied with a Super Bowl, but a team of rented players that aren’t even on the roster for two years cheapens the entire thing. It doesn’t take talent to do what Snead did. He sold anything valuable for whatever he could get. It’s not a genius strategy, and he doesn’t deserve any applause for it-especially when he double talks his way out of questions at press conferences a year later.
Snead didn’t exactly field competitive teams until the Rams got to L.A., but that also can be traced back to Kroenke not putting any effort into the Rams either. Now they, like Bucs who did the same, will have an entirely new roster as they look to actually build a team, and when Snead is inevitably fired in a couple of years, it’ll be someone else’s job to clean up the mess he left behind. It’s one thing to be aggressive in team building, but simply auctioning off all of your valuable assets doesn’t show any skill. Someone like Howie Roseman in Philadelphia is a good example of a GM who is aggressive but not negligent in building a team with picks and transactions and not completely damning it’s future. That takes skill, much more than Snead displayed.
I know that I’m in the minority, but I’m not impressed by the Rams’ win-one that, even with their shameless mercenary approach, still took a good bit of luck to pull off.
I forgot the goal of football is to not win the Super Bowl, but to have the most conservative approach possible. You praise the Eagles which is fine, but they are the same as the Rams recently. One SB win and one loss. If you don’t have a Mahomes pr Brady you aren’t winning multiple super Bowls period. Ask the Bills and Vikings how much they would love just to win one.
Not what I said. The difference between the Eagles and the Rams is that the Eagles won’t crater this next year because of their free agency. But sure, if the ONLY thing you measure is Super Bowl wins and nothing else, then yes, why even bother having a scouting department at all? Why develop anyone? The Rams rented a team for a Super Bowl win, as did the Bucs, and I’m certain that both of their very extensive fanbases will cherish them fondly, until it’s time for them to pick the next team to root for.
That last part was snarkier than it should have been, and disrespectful to the actual fans of those teams. But that approach does draw in your fair share of fairweather friends, which itself is disrespectful to the long-standing fans of either team.
The eagles are in big trouble lol. Also they bought their team too.
The Rams made the playoffs 4/6 years, had two Super Bowl trips and won a ring. Windows close all the time in sports. If theirs closed, the Sean McVay era will be seen as nothing but a success. They aren’t a dynasty, but they certainly did more than a lot of champions who didn’t get to multiple SBs in a window (like the Packers and Saints). I like the Eagles, they are ran well. But they traded a 1st for AJ Brown. They make big swings too.
That’s my point. The Eagles did swing. Unlike the Rams, they did so once. The Rams traded first round picks for Ramsey, Brandin Cooks, and Stafford, amongst other players (Von Miller, Marcus Peters, and Sammy Watkins were all had for second picks and more). Not only that, but Ramsey and Stafford each cost two first rounders, plus extras. That’s not to mention the pitiful returns that the Rams got for many of their acquisitions-they traded Aqib Talib and a fourth round to Miami one year in exchange for a future seventh…two drafts following. That’s just one trade.
I would actually make the argument that the Rams underachieved with the talent that they had. From 2018-2022, they were acquiring anybody in the league who had a name and was available, and they didn’t care what they paid. Think of the players that Snead could have given McVay with proper drafting, and the sustained success that the team could have had by using those players on rookie deals instead of big money contracts. Let’s not forget that the Rams’ mistakes are compounded by their penchant for handing down huge contracts to aging stars after acquiring them. And, with that in mind, how many of these vets have finished one of those contracts?
Of course L.A. should have been good. They bought every talented player that was available. It would have been embarrassing if they weren’t. They really should have won more, and I believe that they would have, if the roster had the depth that other traditional rosters have to complement their stars. You can’t build that, and build for the future, without picks.
Anyone else could have signed the free agents. By the way Eagles didn’t win it all.
Lmao nobody regrets winning a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Out of all the trades the only horrific ones were Peters and Watkins and those were for 2nds. Cooks got flipped for Van Jefferson which is fine. Ramsey provided an elite CB on a championship team. McVay felt a QB upgrade was necessary and they paid the price to do so. They were proven right with a title in year 1 of Stafford. The point of trades, signings, combine, the draft and everything is to WIN THE SUPER BOWL. It’s been a pretty exclusive club recently with the Chiefs and Brady’s teams. Rams did what they had to get in. If it’s so easy why are these teams that making big trades like Diggs in Buffalo and Adams in Vegas not winning. The amount of ease you think it takes to win a title is hilarious. If anything I’d say they are one of the better teams at identifying who to go big on. Von Miller put them over the top and made that Dline unstoppable. Seattle traded multiple firsts for Jamal Adams. I’m getting a lot of “Why win a Super Bowl when you can lose in the divisional round 4 years in a row” vibes from your comments.
You seem to equate long term success with losing, yet you in one breath quote two franchises who did the opposite of what the Rams did and won multiple titles. Nobody said anything about being easy. But yeah, when you cash in ALL of your first round picks every year for some of the top players in the league, you should have a foundation for at least a few years. I mean, seriously, one hit wonders with first rounders are considered busts, unless it’s a vet that costs the Rams half their cap space. Both the Pats and the Chiefs won multiple titles with drafted players. You honestly think that trading a first for Cooks and then ultimately replacing him, a number one receiver, with Van Jefferson, a talented number three, is a good example of forward thinking? Every team has a trade addition or two, of course, but how many of those teams who won multiple titles traded away their first and second rounders every single year? You can make assumptions about what I believe if you want, but I am telling you plainly why I’ve said what I’ve said.
It’s obvious that we disagree. I’ll say it again-winning a title is hollow when you’ve put forth minimal effort, using players who couldn’t care less what team they’re on, and who will not be playing with each other in two or three years-especially when the team is going to be a miserable mess through its own decision making for years to come. But, hey, at least they have that Super Bowl with some players who may not even identify as Rams. For some, that’s enough. For others, there needs to be more. If you’re a fan, fine. But let’s not pretend that it took much genius on the Rams’ part to pull it off.
I understand what you are saying but winning a title is not hallow because they went with the f them picks mindset. Look at the Bills. They are desperate for a Super Bowl, have a ton of great homegrown players and haven’t come close to a ring. It’s not easy even with a willingness to trade picks. They would love to have a “hallow” ring.
Well, in any case, thank you for the discussion. I respect your ability to defend your viewpoint and you raise valid considerations. I still disagree, but I think we’ve laid out our thinking. Thanks again for the good debate, amk.
They traded peters away, not for peters.
Do you read what you type or do you just say things
Nah, I’m too dumb for that. But I do remember things sometimes. Like in 2018-the Kansas City Chiefs traded Marcus Peters and a sixth round pick in 2018 to the Rams in return for a second round pick in 2019 and a fourth round pick in 2018. Peters was traded just a year and a half later in 2019 to the Ravens for Kenny Young and a 2019 fifth round pick.
If you would service in another language, please press 9. Maybe that will help with the English issue you’re having.
You realize he was drafted by the rams, walked and came back, which shoots your whole narrative in the foot right. He was home grown.
Marcus Peters was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round in 2015. This is an easily researchsble fact, if you are not aware. He came out of the University of Washington, before we debate that too. I don’t have anything further to say on the subject.
Sustained success is the top participation trophy. Take it all! There is no other goal.
Howie Roseman is a good example? I think he was third or fourth on the list of “dead money” GMs that PFR provided a while back.
Roseman has been in that position before, but I consider him as such because the Eagles have more drafted players on their roster than most teams that delve into free agency. The Eagles also didn’t give up high level picks for most of their acquisitions (A.J. Brown not withstanding). The dead money is easier to work out of when you draft picks. Snead has a host of lower picks, but he’s had to shed all of his talent to acquire them, and now has neither the talent nor the higher level picks to replace them. I think that it’s obvious that, in comparison, Snead had a much less secure approach than Roseman-and of course much less secure than other GMs. They won a Super Bowl with what they did, that much is obvious. But how many of those players will there within two years of that win? Like I said, I know I’m in the minority.
You may think you’re in the minority with your view, but I, for one, join you in your view of the Rams’ mess that Sneed has created. What he did DOES cheapen the experience the whole thing, for all football fans. I couldn’t agree more with you on all the points you made. All the snide remarks about most conservative approaches and participation trophies ignore the satisfaction gained in actual long-term team-building, which real fans of the Rams and other teams appreciate. How fun is that ONE Super Bowl victory as you spend year after year at the bottom of the league without hope of getting out of your situation anytime soon??? I suppose the lesson of the 3 little pigs was lost on Sneed and the Rams team-stealing, famously-fair-weather LA fans. Roseman and the Eagles may lose quite a bit of talent this year, but all Super Bowl teams do. I have infinitely more confidence in Roseman’s ability, organization-building and draft assets than what talent-evaluation skills and draft assets Mr. “F Draft Picks” has. Unfortunately real Rams fans will be made to suffer miserable game after miserable game without much hope for years to come thanks to Sneed’s self-serving, shortsighted approach. Somewhere in Heaven Ted Stepien is rooting Sneed on.
Start over with what though? Almost zero young talent on the roster nor do they have any day 1 or even 2 draft capital…
Hunter Long and a 3. I don’t hate it but they should have traded for a guy who had targets or maybe more than 100 snaps worth to look at.
Huge get for Fins! Discounted!!!!
Seriously that’s it? A third round pick and pretty much a practice squad player? Good for Miami though
Ramsey the player is worth more than that. But Ramsey the contract isn’t.
And 17M in savings….for what they’re trying to do, it’s not bad but I agree they should have gotten someone who had a little more run in the past season.
Good get Fins; but don’t let it distract you from the real possibility of your season being a sack away from being over.
C.Y.A.
A quick look at any of the “likely trade destination drivel spewed over the past 3 or so weeks and you’ll find 1st round compensation called out. When these “analysts” were calling a trade to Detroit a done deal, LA was getting back their 6th overall.
Can’t find a single article calling Ramsey to Detroit a “done deal.”
It’s more fun to make up narratives that don’t exist and that don’t come to fruition, because then you get to make yourself look smart when you say “told ya so.”
link to sidelionreport.com
It took me two seconds to Google “Will lions trade for Ramsey?” It then took me about two more seconds to find this article (and several others) that mention the Lions as the best suitor AND likely needing a 1st round pick.
Perhaps it’s just as fun to write truth off as a “made up narrative” than it is to actually listen, consider, and do your own research. I guess he did “told ya so.”
So you’re going to cite and conflate a blog with analysts? Do you know who a blogger is? You and I. Analysts are actually coming from a place of legitimate information from inside sources, not just mindless speculation and “hope-so’s.”
I hope you have a better day, you sure do seem upset.
@salute- Naming a team as the most likely suitor and predicting the necessary compensation is not the same as calling a transaction a “done deal.” And as htrab correctly pointed out, that’s a blog. It’s not a professional writer or professional analyst.
Or us giving up the 6th pick ..
Looks like the Rams have it all figured out. This years draft is apparently loaded with good 2nd and 3rd round picks – thus they’ll make a couple picks there (as they are cheaper in year 4 than a marginal 1st rounder) and then tank the 2023 season in order to draft their next QB in the 2024 draft.
The issue is they’re tied to Stafford for potentially 2 years due to dead cap numbers. I agree that should be the move because the he priority should be competing to give the Rams lifer in Donald one more chance to win.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a fine trade for Miami on its own terms, but good lord has this team gone all-in on Tua succeeding and staying healthy behind a line that still has a couple of glaring weak spots (and whose best lineman will not play a whole season).
Id be really worried if the Fins begin playing next Sunday but….
It doesn’t. But they’ve already committed most of their cap and traded away most of their draft capital. There’s a limit to how much bolstering they can still do without paying a hefty toll. And they’re already short their third and fourth rounders *next* year, too.
Draft picks aside, Ramsey’s contract will be restructured soon to clear up cap and address other positions like the OL, ILB, S, TE etc.
Ross paying a fortune in signing bonuses this offseason.
Ramsey has $35 million in guarantees between this year and next. If they restructure, they’ll just be going further in compromising their future to win now. Which is fine if you win it all, like the Rams did. But this team is iffier than that one was. You listed an awful lot of positions.
and I forgot back-up QB
Well, I suppose that Miami could make the argument that they have a ready-made team for a new quarterback to simply step in if Tua goes down or is ineffective. That quarterback could be someone like Garappolo (if they wrangle him) or Gardner Minshew (if they wrangle him), or even a draftee. Tua is certainly their plan A, but I don’t think that Miami would go this all in without a desire to acquire someone to step in if Tua goes down.
Bad take. You really think Jimmy is going to Miami for peanuts when there’s multiple teams willing to pay more and offering a starting spot? If anything he’d be back to the Niners to be a backup over Miami.
No, I don’t. That won’t stop Miami from trying, so I won’t completely ignore the possibility.
Garappolo will weigh his options, and San Fran is the least of them. That’s not because the 9ers are bad, but that divorce is pretty finalized right now. If Garappolo, for some reason, has a cooler market than he’d like, Miami is the best backup spot he could get-it has a good roster, a QB who has missed significant time in the past, and runs an identical offense to the one he just left. No, I don’t think that it’s Garappolo’s first choice. No, I also wouldn’t be astounded if he ends up there in the event of a poor market (or a market made up of teams that he’d rather not play for).
Steal
What interests me here is the cap charge to Miami for each of the next three years. It’s a great trade depending on how much of their cap they’ve lost to a single, non-QB player. If it’s the $19 million-odd per season that OTC shows, the trade is alright. If it’s gone up to $22 or $24 million it’s an awful trade.
Some part of the cap still has to be paid by the Rams as it was part of a signing bonus.
if its less than they were gonna give byron jones.. it’s a grand slam
Even worse since his diminishing skills point to a move to safety in the very near future. That’s a lot of cash for a player going downhill fast (with a negative attitude to boot).
You would think that the Dolphins are simply a quarterback away from a potential Super Bowl. Whether that be a healthy Tua or someone else like Tom Brady, they are close
You still want Miami to sign the Cheatriots legend after the Dolphins got whacked by the NFL for tapping him up? Miami has no first-round draft pick this year as a result.
Tom Brady is done. It’s hilarious watching people speculate otherwise. This isn’t last year.
Even if he plays again he’s done. He’s not prime Brady anymore, and teams can’t compensate enough around him to cover it up. Plus I don’t think the desire is really there. He might think he wants to play again, but if he was so bothered last year by non-football stuff, I can’t imagine he just blocks everything out to play again at 46.
Sucks for Ramsey. Now he has to get smoked by Diggs and Allen twice a year. Remember when he called Allen “garbage” and “trash”? lol, how’s that working for you, Jaylen?
Well, since Ramsey has a ring and Diggs and Allen don’t, I’d say it’s working out well for him
@Adam – he was a top five pick in 2016. He’s been around a bit longer…
I think he was referring to the fact that 2019 was the year the Rams traded for him..not year he entered league.
Dolphins should use a second round pick on a TE. Lots of really good TEs in this draft. You get someone to fill that potion you have another good blocker and/or catcher to add to the offence with Hill and Waddle stretching the field there will always be room underneath for a quality TE.
Dolphins have a loaded roster. Great attacking options, good secondary, plus they have pass protection and rushers. A lot of pressure in McDaniels and Tua. Tua is guaranteed 2 years on his deal not sure McDaniels makes the second year if they don’t do something good next post season
If they can’t/won’t focus on an O-Line to protect Tua then Miami needs to put together a dual-threat backfield that does more than “keeps opposing Defenses honest”
Admittedly I don’t know their cap situation but a combination of names like Mattison & Robinson would go a long way in helping.
If they’re only looking to sign one RB, and despite most “experts” saying Sanders would be a perfect fit, I think Mattison would be an excellent RB1 in McDaniels’ playbook
I like Sanders but I also think Kareem Hunt could be a sneaky good option
I was thinking more in the same age-range as Tua & Waddle. I think Hunt is like 28-29 … plus mileage
Hunt is 27 right now. He doesn’t have that much mileage because he’s been RB2 the last 3 years
I like the way the Dolphins are built right now but if I’m a fan, I’m both very psyched about ‘23 and aware that Tua has had some very bad injuries and that should he go down, their offense is in serious trouble. I get that one can say this about literally any team, but given his history and size, I’d wonder if Miami is looking to get a more than capable number 2 there just in case