The Miami Dolphins made a blockbuster trade in the 2023 offseason, trading for the services of superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey. As one of the premier defensive backs in the NFL, what did Miami have to give up to get their man?
Revisiting the Jalen Ramsey Trade
The Rams had made it clear in the 2023 offseason that Ramsey was available for trade. After going all in to win Super Bowl LVI, they found themselves in cap hell. Los Angeles decided they had to give themselves a clean slate now, which meant suffering from a massive amount of dead cap in 2023, to free up money for the future.
Ramsey was one of those stars available for trade on March 12, 2023, it was announced that he was being traded to the Dolphins.
The trade was a huge move for one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and was meant to elevate Miami’s defense to the next level. However, Ramsey suffered a torn meniscus in preseason, which put his 2023 season in jeopardy.
Nevertheless, he was able to make a speedy recovery, returning to action in Week 8. Now back on the field, Ramsey’s proving why the Dolphins were willing to complete the trade.
Dolphins received:
- CB Jalen Ramsey
Rams received:
- 2023 third-round pick
- TE Hunter Long TE
As for the compensation, the Dolphins were happy to send a third-rounder (from the Patriots in their trade for DeVante Parker) and Hunter Long. The Rams, meanwhile, turned that third-round pick (77th overall) into edge rusher Byron Young, who is having a good rookie season, with five sacks in his first 10 games.
Long, unfortunately, found himself on injured reserve after suffering a thigh injury in September.
Ramsey in Miami
It is expected that Ramsey had a hand in his chosen destination and was thrilled to end up in Miami. Speaking to Cameron Wolfe from NFL Network, Ramsey said, “I feel great, man. This is something I was praying about for a long time.”
Ramsey knew how much hard work he needed to put in if he was to continue his success in Miami, telling Wolfe, “It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be exciting, but we gonna get to work though, for sure.”
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On why he was so excited to join the Dolphins, Ramsey said, “The goal is to try to get back to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl.”
In 2016, Ramsey was the fifth overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars and quickly established himself as one of the top corners in the NFL. However, in 2019, with the Jaguars not close to competing, the Rams went all in to secure his services, sending two first-round draft picks and a fourth-rounder Jacksonville’s way in exchange for Ramsey.
Ramsey’s Contract
By trading for Ramsey, the Dolphins had to open their checkbooks and give the star corner a contract extension.
According to Spotrac, Ramsey’s contract extension is for three years, worth $55 million — netting him an average annual salary of just over $18.3 million. Of that money, $35.5 million was guaranteed, and the contract also included an $8.8 million signing bonus.
The contract structure means that Ramsey is on the books for just $4.1 million in 2023. However,, the cap hit skyrockets in 2024, where he’ll cost $28.4 million against the cap. In the final year of the contract extension, Ramsey’s cap hit will drop but will still cost the Dolphins against the cap to a sum of $22.4 million. The contract also includes a void year in 2026.
The cap hit in future years could well be a bitter pill to swallow for Miami. But the Dolphins could do some cap magic and restructure Ramsey’s contract again in the offseason. Over the Cap has Ramsey’s overall contract worth $100 million, making him the third-highest-paid corner in the NFL.
Plus, there is scope for Miami to also decide on Ramsey’s future in the offseason. Should the Dolphins, for whatever reason, want to cut him after the 2023 season, then that will cost them a staggering $28.4 million against the cap. However, such is the magic and mysteries of the salary cap, if Miami were to move on from Ramsey after June 1, then that cap hit would drop down to just $2.9 million.
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