Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey Prefers Trade To West Coast?
With minicamps wrapped up around the NFL, player movement is set to quiet down until training camps begin next month. In the case of Jalen Ramsey, therefore, his post-Dolphins future could remain uncertain for several weeks. 
Team and player have mutually decided to part ways in this case, with a falling out between Ramsey and the coaching staff driving the decision. The 30-year-old has been on the trade block for months, and since June 1 Miami has been in position to facilitate a trade with preferable cap consequences. Little movement has taken place, though, as a small number of suitors have been connected to a Ramsey pursuit.
[RELATED: Raiders Not Pursuing Dolphins CB In Trade]
The Cowboys, Panthers and – most recently – Raiders have each come off the list in terms of potential landing spots for the seven-time Pro Bowler. The Rams, by contrast, have been a team to watch throughout the Ramsey sweepstakes. Head coach Sean McVay has made it clear Los Angeles is interested in a reunion, something which stood in stark contrast to the team’s stance on Jaire Alexander. The latter signed with the Ravens earlier this week, taking one high-profile cover man off the market. Ramsey remains as a notable option still available deep into the offseason.
During a Friday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link), ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided an update on this situation. To little surprise, Schefter predicts the Ramsey trade will take place in time for the start of training camp in mid-July. In terms of a landing spot, he added the three-time All-Pro’s preference appears to be a West Coast team. In addition to the Rams, that would obviously leave the Chargers as a potential suitor.
Ramsey spent considerable time with the Rams, helping to lead the team to victory in Super LVI. A return to McVay and Co. would thus come as no surprise. The Bolts, by contrast, have not yet been mentioned as an interested party regarding Ramsey. They have been busy at the CB this offseason, adding the likes of Donte Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste in free agency. Tarheeb Still enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, and he is in line to remain a key member of the Chargers’ secondary in 2025 and beyond.
With Asante Samuel Jr. still unsigned, though, the Bolts could stand to make another move in the secondary this offseason. General manager Joe Hortiz has over $27MM in cap space to work with at this point, meaning the Chargers would be able to absorb the $21MM in remaining guarantees on Ramsey’s pact with more ease than many other teams (including, to a small extent, the Rams). It will be interesting to see if a strong push emerges in the near future connecting Ramsey to Los Angeles’ AFC franchise.
Until and unless that happens, the Rams will no doubt remain the favorite in this case. Finances will be key in facilitating a Ramsey swap, and the Dolphins’ willingness to retain money will go a long way in determining the value received in return. With his intentions regarding a destination fitting what many already expected, the big-ticket trade target will continue to be linked to a return to his second career team.
Release Candidates: Shelby Harris, Ogbo Okoronkwo
For the Browns, a key talking point through training camp and the preseason will of course be the team’s quarterback competition. Other position battles will be taking place this summer, though, and the defensive line will be a position group to watch. 
Cleveland has free agent addition Maliek Collins set to occupy a starting role along the interior after he inked a $20MM deal to join the Browns. Having selected Mason Graham fifth overall in this year’s draft, it can also be safely assumed the All-American will be counted on as a key contributor early and often in his career. 2024 second-rounder Mike Hall is another defensive tackle attached to a rookie contract in Cleveland’s case.
Given the nature of the Browns’ depth chart along the D-line, Shelby Harris could find himself on the outside of the roster bubble. The Athletic’s Zac Jackson writes Harris is in danger of being cut this summer (subscription required). Jackson also notes that the same is true of veteran edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo.
Harris has spent time with four teams over the course of his NFL career. The 33-year-old played for the Seahawks in 2022 after being acquired as part of the Russell Wilson trade. That was followed by a free agent deal with the Browns. Harris has logged 31 games and 20 starts to date in Cleveland, and his snap share jumped from 42% in 2023 to 59% last year.
In spite of that workload, the Browns’ moves along the defensive interior this spring would leave Harris lower on the depth chart in the event he were to be retained. One year remains on the former seventh-rounder’s contract. If the Browns were to release or trade him, they would see $1.68MM in cap savings while incurring a slightly lower dead money charge.
Okoronkwo has also been in Cleveland for the past two years. After showing potential with the Texans in 2022 (five sacks, 17 QB pressures) the former fifth-rounder joined the Browns to operate as a complementary option to Myles Garrett. Over the course of his time with the team, however, Okoronkwo has only totaled five starts (each of them coming late last season after Za’Darius Smith had been traded away). In all, he has managed 7.5 sacks.
Garrett is still in the fold for years to come thanks to his new market-resetting deal. The Browns also have recent draftees Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire in place as No. 2 and 3 pass rush options along the edge. As a result, Jackson notes Okoronkwo, 30, could find himself on the outside looking in. That comes as little surprise given a report from April which stated he was among the players Cleveland was shopping in a potential trade.
Just likes Harris, Okoronkwo is a pending 2026 free agent. None of his scheduled base salary for the year is guaranteed, but the Oklahoma product is owed a $1.5MM option bonus on August 30. That represents a logical deadline for a decision to be made on keeping him in the fold or moving on. In Okoronkwo’s case, a release or trade would yield $3.67MM in cap savings while generating $1.95MM in dead money.
As things stand, the Browns have just over $18MM in cap space. That figure can and will change once final roster cuts are made, and Harris and Okoronkwo are among the notable names to watch with respect to a potential parting of ways in the near future.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/20/25
Friday’s lone draft pick signing:
New England Patriots
- S Craig Woodson (fourth round, Cal)
With Woodson now on the books, running back TreVeyon Henderson is the only member of New England’s draft class which has not yet signed. A deal for the latter may not be coming any time soon, of course, given the precedent set earlier this spring for second-round picks receiving fully guaranteed deals and the logjam which now exists for players picked during that round.
Bengals CB Josh Newton In Line For Starting Role?
Mike Hilton remains unsigned deep into the offseason, leaving the Bengals in line for a new starting slot corner. The team appears set to turn to an internal option to take over first-team duties on the inside. 
Hilton was a mainstay in the secondary during his Cincinnati tenure (2021-24), totaling 64 appearances with the team. As the 31-year-old searches for his next team, the Bengals will spend training camp looking to replace his production. The top candidate to do so at this point is Josh Newton, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes (subscription required).
Newton joined the Bengals as a fifth-round pick in last year’s draft. Expectations were relatively low as a result, but with the team dealing with several injuries in the secondary he took on a notable role. Newton wound up logging a defensive snap share of 44% while also contributing regularly on special teams. A step further in usage could be in store depending on how training camp plays out.
Over the course of the campaign, Newton posted one interception along with seven pass deflections. The 24-year-old endured his struggles in coverage, though, being charged with an opposing passer rating of 94.7 and four touchdowns allowed as the nearest defender. Middling PFF evaluations from his rookie campaign leave plenty of room for improvement in Year 2.
Cincinnati has the likes of Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner in place as outside corners. Dax Hill – who transitioned from safety to corner last offseason – is also in the fold, and he hopes to recover in full from his ACL tear in time for training camp. When healthy, however, the former first-rounder is unsure of where he will line up in the secondary. Until the unit is at full strength, it will be difficult to glean how new defensive coordinator Al Golden wants to arrange his cornerbacks.
In any case, Dehner notes Newton has drawn strong reviews for his work so far this offseason. The TCU product’s performance in camp will thus be worth watching closely as he vies for a full-time starting gig.
Raiders Not Interested In CB Jalen Ramsey
One of the major cornerback dominoes recently fell with Jaire Alexander electing to join the Ravens. That leaves Jalen Ramsey in place as a high-profile cover man still available via trade. 
It has long been known Ramsey and the Dolphins will pursue a parting of ways this offseason. With the calendar having flipped to June, a trade is much more feasible for the team from a cap perspective. However, Ramsey is still on the books with Miami and the list of teams known to be interested remains rather short.
The Rams have been named on more than one occasion as a potential landing spot for Ramsey. The three-time All-Pro played 63 combined regular and postseason games for Los Angeles and was a member of the Super Bowl LVI-winning team. Head coach Sean McVay has spoken about pursuing a reunion, but over the past month no indications of progress have emerged on that front.
In the meantime, few updates to this situation have taken place. The Panthers are among the teams which can be ruled out as a landing spot for the seven-time Pro Bowler. It appears the same is also true in the case of the Raiders. Ramsey is not a target at this point, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes.
While things could of course change during the summer, that update points to Ramsey winding up with the Rams or another, currently unknown, suitor. At the age of 30, interested parties will be hesitant about trading away draft capital in addition to taking on the remaining guarantees (totaling roughly $21MM) in his scheduled 2025 compensation. A release could garner consideration in the event Ramsey – who was an excused absence from mandatory minicamp – were to remain on the Dolphins’ roster deep into the summer.
The Raiders have over $36MM in cap space at the moment, so they could afford a high-priced acquisition such as Ramsey. Unlike in past years, the team could be prepared to make a splash late in the offseason, and many have specifically pointed to the cornerback spot as one which could be of interest regarding an addition. Vegas’ setup in the secondary is yet to be determined given the number of new faces in place, but Ramsey should not be expected to become one of them.
Ryan Bates Uncertain To Make Bears’ Roster
The Bears showed persistent interest in Ryan Bates, inking the veteran offensive lineman to an offer sheet in 2022. Two years later, a trade was worked out with the Bills which sent him to Chicago. 
Upon arrival in the Windy City, Bates was unable to secure a starting spot along the interior of the offensive line. His ability to do so this time around is essentially non-existent given the Bears’ offseason moves up front. In addition, Bates may not be a lock to survive roster cuts this summer.
A 53-man projection from Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns of The Athletic notes that Bates will be among the linemen competing for a depth role during training camp (subscription required). The 28-year-old suffered shoulder and elbow injuries during his Bears debut last fall, and the ensuing recovery process resulted in only three games played. Bates has one year remaining on his deal.
Cutting the Penn State product would create $3.5MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of only $500K. The Bears have nearly $15MM in cap space at the moment, but finances will no doubt play a role in the decision to keep or move on from Bates. He will spend camp competing for a depth spot alongside the likes of Doug Kramer, Ricky Stromberg, Chris Glaser and Jordan McFadden. Each member of that group is younger than Bates, who has 76 appearances to his name but only 21 starts in that time (most of them coming with the Bills from 2021-22).
After O-line play was an issue for 2024, the Bears made a concerted effort to upgrade the interior of the line in particular this spring. Trades for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson were worked out in short order, and Chicago made a big-ticket free agent addition in the form of center Drew Dalman. As as result of the subsequent extensions signed by Thuney and Jackson, all three blockers are under contract for the next three seasons. Unseating any of them would be a tall order in Bates’ case, but even securing a backup role at guard and/or center could prove to be challenging.
Court Date Set For Texans S Jimmie Ward
JUNE 20: Ward’s court date has now been revised to August 13, per Wilson. The court proceedings will take place well into training camp and midway through Houston’s preseason schedule as a result.
JUNE 19: Last week, Jimmie Ward was arrested and charged with assault family violence impeding breath/circulation. The Texans safety now has a court date scheduled. 
Ward will have his initial court hearing on July 16, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. The 33-year-old’s charge is a third-degree felony stemming from an alleged incident which took place at his home in Magnolia, Texas. During a pre-trial hearing, Ward was informed a guilty verdict could lead to a sentence up to 10 years in length and a $100K fine.
“We believe that Jimmie will be vindicated,” a statement from Ward’s attorney, Steve Jackson, reads (via Wilson). “We just ask that the public reserve judgment so that we can show everyone that the Jimmie Ward they all know is the same person and did not do this.”
During a reading of the charges, the assistant district attorney noted how the alleged victim in the case – Ward’s fiancé – told police Ward “slapped her in the face, strangled her and threatened to kill her.” She filed for and received an emergency protective order in the wake of the incident. Ward was released from prison on a $30K bond and his movements will be monitored via GPS.
A longtime starter with the 49ers, Ward joined DeMeco Ryans and the Texans in 2023. He has operated as a team captain during each of his two years in Houston while handling a notable defensive workload. Thanks to an extension signed last offseason, the former first-rounder is under contract for 2025 and is owed $3.25MM this year. That could obviously change in the wake of legal developments taking place and/or an NFL suspension being handed down before the start of the season.
Cowboys-Micah Parsons Negotiations Could Be Held Up By Term Length
The Cowboys are no strangers to lengthy negotiating periods with high-profile players, and this offseason has proven to be no exception. Micah Parsons is still a pending 2026 free agent with this year’s offseason program in the books. 
He and owner Jerry Jones spoke months ago and made considerable progress toward a final agreement. Nothing is in place now, though, and the two parties have not spoken for some time. Finances are always a key factor in extension talks, but the length of a deal is crucial as well. On the latter point, the Cowboys have often favored longer agreements and it appears that could be an issue with respect to Parsons.
Term length seems to be a sticking point between the Cowboys and the two-time All-Pro, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes (video link). Longer deals with the likes of Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence have demonstrated the team’s preference when it comes to big-ticket extensions. More recently, pacts for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb (both four years in length) illustrate how that approach may be shifting in the wake of player preferring more frequent opportunities to test the market.
At the age of 26 and with 52.5 sacks to his name, Parsons is an obvious candidate for a major raise over the course of several years. The four-time Pro Bowler intends to reset the EDGE market on his new deal, something which would require surpassing Myles Garrett‘s $40MM per year as things stand. Extensions for the likes of T.J. Watt, Aidan Hutchinson and Trey Hendrickson could move the bar even higher this summer, something which would add to the cost of waiting on the Cowboys’ part.
It is unclear what terms Dallas is prepared to offer in this case, along with the particulars Parsons is seeking. With a training camp hold-in looming, though, progress regarding not only financials but also contract structure will need to be made over the next few weeks.
Guarantees At Issue In Steelers’ T.J. Watt Negotiations?
Spring practices have come and gone without a deal being worked out between T.J. Watt and the Steelers. The former Defensive Player of the Year skipped mandatory minicamp in an indication of the gap which remains between the parties regarding negotiations. 
[RELATED: Steelers Have Submitted At Least One Watt Extension Offer]
To little surprise, guaranteed compensation appears to be a sticking point in this case. Bleacher Report’s James Palmer notes the extent to which the Steelers are willing to make a new major commitment in terms of locked in money will be a determining factor in whether or not an agreement is reached (video link). Like many others, Palmer predicts a deal will be in place by the regular season.
If all goes well, Watt will report to training camp next month with his third Steelers contract in hand. The 30-year-old has one season remaining on his existing pact, and he is owed $21.05MM in 2025. In terms of average annual value, Watt currently sits sixth after his deal moved him to the top of the pecking order at signing. The pass rush market is currently topped by Myles Garrett ($40MM per year), and the likes of Aidan Hutchinson and Micah Parsons could create a new benchmark this summer.
Watt tied the all-time single-season sack record (22.5) in 2021 before a torn pec limited him to 10 games the following year. The four-time All-Pro bounced back by leading the league in sacks once again in 2023, something which will of course help his bargaining position. On the other hand, Watt saw his sack total drop to 11.5 last season (although he topped the NFL with six forced fumbles). Given his age, the Steelers will no doubt be more hesitant about a monster extension this time around than when Watt was coming off his rookie deal.
Pittsburgh has Alex Highsmith in place as a fellow first-team edge rusher, and Nate Herbig along with fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer are in position to operate as notable depth options. The team’s defense will continue to rely heavily on Watt in 2025, though, and his situation will remain worth watching closely as a result. In the coming weeks, a renewed push could be made to arrive at an agreement regarding guaranteed money on a new long-term pact and thus to finalize an extension.
Steelers Still Exploring WR Addition
JUNE 19: While also noting a trade is being looked into, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic writes the Steelers could very well wait until training camp to pursue a noteworthy receiver addition (subscription required). Austin and Wilson should have plenty of opportunities to earn a starter’s role; should they struggle to do so or face injury issues, though, Pittsburgh will remain a team to watch on this front.
JUNE 12: Four trades including receivers have taken place this offseason, and the Steelers have been involved in two of them. Pittsburgh’s depth chart will be led by D.K. Metcalf in 2025 and beyond, but questions linger about who will operate as the team’s No. 2 option. 
Incumbents Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson are each set to have an increased role in the passing game as things stand. The Steelers have added a veteran in the form of Robert Woods, but acquiring another experienced option closer to their prime remains a goal. Pittsburgh is still “actively making calls” regarding a receiver trade while also looking into the remaining free agent options, per Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show.
[RELATED: Steelers Were Among Chris Godwin’s Suitors]
Last month, it was reported the Steelers were content to evaluate their in-house wideouts before strongly pursuing an outside addition. With OTAs and minicamp now in the books, they have been able to do so. The likes of Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper – who have a combined 11 Pro Bowls to their names – are among the veterans still in need of a deal at this point of the offseason. Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers contract is now on the books, but even taking into account that one-year pact Pittsburgh still has nearly $19MM in cap space.
Finances will therefore not be an issue on the free agent front. With respect to trades, general manager Omar Khan has shown a willingness to pursue a high-profile move more than once. Prior to this year’s Metcalf swap, the Steelers reached agreement on a Brandon Aiyuk trade. He eventually landed a 49ers extension, though, something which fueled efforts to acquire a rental at the 2024 trade deadline. Mike Williams did not perform as hoped upon arrival, and he has since retuned to the Chargers.
No wideouts have a standing trade request (at least in public) at this point. Pittsburgh could nevertheless look to bring in a starting-caliber option before training camp. In the meantime, Austin in particular will continue preparing for a notable offensive role. The 26-year-old was sidelined for his entire rookie season and handled a part-time workload the following campaign. In 2024, though, Austin averaged 15.2 yards per catch while recording four touchdowns and chipping in as a punt returner as well.
2025 represents a key season in Austin’s case. Kaboly notes the Steelers have not approached the former fourth-rounder about an extension, but Austin could certainly boost his market value with a career-high in production. That, in turn, will of course depend on what moves (if any) Pittsburgh makes at the receiver spot this summer.