The Miami Dolphins are expected to trade All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey at some point in the build-up to the 2025 NFL season. With a player of Ramsey's caliber hitting the market, the Dolphins should get a solid return. At least, in theory.
ESPN shared multiple mock-trade scenarios for Ramsey from Jeremy Fowler, Ben Solak, Daniel Graziano, and Seth Walder. The trades that the four ESPN writers made are bad news for the Dolphins.
Fowler's offer was a 2026 fifth and sixth-round pick, along with cash considerations. Graziano's offer was a 2026 seventh-round pick. Walder offered a 2027 seventh-round pick, and Solak offered a 2026 fourth-round pick.
Solak's offer was by far the best of those deals presented, and even so, it was not what Ramsey could get. The Dolphins sent tight end Hunter Long and a third-round pick for Ramsey ahead of the 2023 season.
Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) reacts as he takes the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) reacts as he takes the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
While Ramsey is two years older and more expensive, the best projected value, being a fourth-round pick, would be a disappointing return for Ramsey. But ESPN's exercise is even worse for the Dolphins, as there were multiple offers of late-day-three picks, like the offers from Walder and Graziano.
If those were the best offers on the table, the Dolphins would walk away with just a sixth or seventh-round pick at best for Ramsey. Considering the caliber of player Ramsey still is, and the years of control left on his deal, a return of a sixth or seventh would be paltry in comparison to what was expected.
Ramsey signed a three-year, $72 million extension with the Dolphins ahead of the 2024 season. Less than a year later, the Dolphins are parting ways with the star cornerback.
If the Dolphins return for Ramsey falls within that range, of a sixth or seventh round pick, there would likely be a lot of disappointment in Miami. While a 4th round pick would also be underwhelming, it would at least provide the Dolphins with their seventh pick in the first four rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
With ESPN's mock-trade exercise in mind, the Dolphins got a bit of bad news on the potential return for Ramsey. That small of a return for Ramsey would be a lackluster outcome, especially considering the time, money, and assets invested in Ramsey.