Jalen Ramsey
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Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins in action during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on September 22.
The San Francisco 49ers have the chance to upgrade their defensive secondary, as along as they are willing to jump in and make the move.
According to reports, All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey wants to play on the west coast, which could open the door to him joining the 49ers at some point this summer.
Ramsey, a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro who won the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021-22, is reportedly on the trade block from the Miami Dolphins.
Ramsey will be owed $25 million in real dollars but will carry a $16.6 million cap hit in 2025. But his 2024-signed, three-year, $72 million mega contract is slated to kick in in 2026.
Can The San Francisco 49ers Acquire Jalen Ramsey?
From a dollars-and-cents perspective, and based on reports, the 49ers check all the potential boxes for a team that could acquire Ramsey.
The Niners have $47-plus million in salary-cap space for the 2025 season. They also are located, geographically, in the correct place according to Ramsey’s reported wishes.
“I think that a trade will get done,” ESPN insider Adam Schefter said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday. “Jalen Ramsey will get traded. It will be, I expect, before the start of training camp. We’ll see how it shakes out, where he goes. I think he would like to go to the west coast.”
For a roster that is as star-laden as the 49ers’ is, general manager John Lynch has neglected the team’s cornerback position. Though it was fifth in passing yards-against per game (192.8) in 2024, San Francisco ranked tied for 21st in interceptions (11) in 2024 and its defense was tied for 26th in the NFL in takeaways (17) last year.
The Niners sure could use a star, shutdown-caliber corner like Ramsey, since they are poised to enter training camp with two cornerbacks, Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green ranked between Nos. 35-50 among the 110-plus cornerbacks rated by Pro-Football Focus in 2024.
Ramsey was ranked 16th by PFF in 2024, despite the fact he finished the season with only two interceptions.
Where Else Could Jalen Ramsey Be Traded?
Even though the 49ers are on the west coast, they aren’t the only team based there. They are sure to have competition in acquiring his services, especially with the two teams that play south of the team’s home in Santa Clara.
In the next breath, Schefter told McAfee he believes Ramsey is most likely to end up in Los Angeles.
“Rams, Chargers, somewhere like that,” he said.
The tie between Ramsey and the Rams is obvious, since coach Sean McVay has basically been tampering with the ex-Rams cornerback. But the Rams’ interest in Ramsey could force the Niners to act, since the teams are obviously NFC West rivals and Ramsey had five passes defended and an interception in three games against San Francisco in 2021.
The Chargers could also be a compelling landing spot, since likewise, they don’t have any star-caliber cornerbacks. Their need is less desperate than the Rams’, though Ramsey would be a huge upgrade from Donte Jackson, who had just a 49.4 grade per PFF in 2024.
The money could work for any team, since both the Rams and Chargers have cap space to land Ramsey, though his extension could prove cost-prohibitive. Still, both teams also definitely have the potential draft capital required.
But the threat of Ramsey going to a regional rival could shove Lynch and Co. to ask.