‘Never going to shy away from opportunities.’ Rams coach Sean McVay on a potential Ramsey trade
The month of May is officially here and Jalen Ramsey still remains with the Miami Dolphins.
Despite reports that the Dolphins and Ramsey mutually agreed to seek a trade, the seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback still is in the aqua and orange. And while teams like the Los Angeles Rams have emerged as potential suitors, nothing has been done. With rookie minicamps across the league either underway or set to begin soon, Rams coach Sean McVay was recently asked about the potential trade.
“There’s not too much of an update,” McVay told Adam Schein of SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, according to Rams Wire. “He is a total stud, and you look at, obviously he has continued to play at a really high level. He and I have kept in great touch even since we ended up trading him to Miami. Special competitor, great person, great father. And so there are a lot of layers when you’re talking about a player of his caliber. ‘All right, with regards to the contract, the compensation that they would be looking for in exchange for receiving a player of his magnitude.’ And so those conversations are ongoing, as I’m sure they are with multiple teams. And we’ll see, but we’re never going to shy away from opportunities to increase the competitiveness of our roster or add great players as long as it fits within the framework of everything that an acquisition like that would entail.”
The two sides have been in discussion for some time. Rams general manager Les Snead confirmed such talks.
“I’ve had discussions with Miami,” Snead said April 22, later adding that “there are a lot of nuances to that situation based on all the things that come with a trade, contracts and things like that. I’m not sure where they’re at in the process.”
Although the NFL Draft appeared to be the perfect time for a deal to be made, nothing ever materialized. It should also be noted that a post-June 1 trade would put the Dolphins in a better financial position as it would clear nearly $10 million in cap space.
“We’ve had conversations through the weekend with some teams about it as well, so depending on what happens and if and when it’ll happen; whatever it is, we’ll make the deal at the appropriate time,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said after the draft.
The biggest issue, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, appears to be Ramsey’s giant contract as the star corner is owed $24 million in guarantees. Ramsey, who is under contract until 2028, signed a three-year, $72.3 million extension in September
“Miami has been calling around on Ramsey trying to work a potential trade,” Fowler said. “They were doing so in the days leading up to the NFL Draft. So something could shake out here this off season. I’m told Ramsey does want to play for a contender. So, he wouldn’t just go to any team, considering his age, his pedigree as a Super Bowl winner.”
Added Fowler: “The sticking point here is that $24 million in guarantees. My sense after asking around is Miami has not been overly eager to cover some of that bill, which sort of makes a trade hard to pull off right now. L.A. Rams, it could be a reunion here. They’ve been in the mix here, they are a team to watch, certainly for Ramsey.”
Ramsey, of course, spent roughly four seasons with the Rams prior to being traded to Miami in March 2023. Los Angeles has always held a special place in Ramsey’s heart: not only did he win his sole Super Bowl with the franchise in 2021, he made three Pro Bowls and received two All-Pro honors.
“L.A. is like a second home for me,” Ramsey said prior to his 2024 return to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, later adding that “the community always treated me and my family with nothing but love and respect.”
In just two years in Miami, Ramsey recorded five interceptions, 16 pass deflections and 82 combined tackles.
