Salary Cap Analyst Brad Spielberger from PFF wrote a column on Tuesday laying out five trades to watch out for this offseason in the NFL. One of which included the Miami Dolphins acquiring superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the LA Rams. He has Miami giving up a 2nd round pick in this year’s 2023 draft and in next year’s 2024 draft for Ramsey. Miami would have Ramsey under contract for three more years, and only $12.5 million of that guaranteed. Miami would have to get creative with its salary cap to make this work, for one they would need to cut Byron Jones, which sounds easy to do on paper, but to get the full cap savings, it must be a post-June 1st cut meaning the cap space wouldn’t open up until after June 1st. A move like this may also mean Miami is unable to re-sign Nik Needham in free agency and would move Kader Kohou to the nickel back position heading into next year. Some would say it’s a small price to pay to add one of the three best cornerbacks in the NFL to the Dolphins roster, but it is something to consider as Chris Grier begins his roster construction for the 2023 season.
Also, if Miami adds Ramsey, would there be enough money under the cap for Miami to sign multiple running backs (right now, Miami has none under contract for 2023), upgrade the right tackle position, and improve the linebacker and tight end spots as well?
A tandem of Ramsey and Xavien Howard at the cornerback position would be a massive upgrade, as Ramsey has been the NFL’s 2nd best CB the past three seasons per PFF numbers. The one downside is the loss of draft capital for the Dolphins in the early rounds. The Dolphins traded away a 1st, and 2nd round picks for Tyreek Hill, they lost another 1st round pick due to Tampering charges, and they traded away another 1st round pick for Bradley Chubb. To now trade multiple second-round picks in the upcoming seasons means Miami would essentially go three full seasons without a pick in rounds 1 or 2, and that is not a successful way to build a franchise for the long term.
What do you think? Should Miami pull the trigger and make a trade for Jalen Ramsey?
