Dolphins general manager Chris Grier confirmed reports that the team was looking to trade Jalen Ramsey, but clarified that the All-Pro cornerback did not request a trade.
Grier said that the decision to part ways was in the “best interest of all parties,” according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, adding that the potentially upcoming split was not a result of new contract demands by Ramsey. The Dolphins just signed him to a three-year, $72.3MM extension last September that made him the highest-paid cornerback in league history, raising questions about when and why the team’s relationship with its star defender deteriorated.
Grier said that the Dolphins have been in touch with other teams regarding Ramsey, but he does not know if a trade will happen before the draft, if at all. Ramsey’s new contract runs through 2028.
“If he’s here, we’ll deal with it,” said Grier (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero).
A post-draft trade would likely make the most sense for Miami. The team only has $16.5MM in salary cap space, per OverTheCap, and a chunk of that will be needed to sign its rookie class. As a result, the $25.2MM of dead money resulting from a pre-June 1 trade would be financially untenable without additional roster maneuvering.
A post-June 1 trade would save $9.92MM in 2025 with a $6.75MM dead cap charge, with the remaining $18.47MM in dead money pushed to 2026. An acquiring team would pick up Ramsey’s $1.255MM salary, $865k in workout and per-game roster bonuses, and a fully-guaranteed $19MM option bonus due on August 31. Ramsey will then be owed $66.73MM from 2026 to 2028, though none of that money is guaranteed.
Grier also said that Dolphins are not interested in trading Tyreek Hill, despite persistent rumors of such a move this offseason. Mike McDaniel also recently indicated the Dolphins expected to have the All-Pro wide receiver on their roster this season, but trade rumors have continued to follow the likely Hall of Fame-bound talent. The draft would loom as the next window for a trade.
“That is not anything that we’re pursuing,” he said (via Pelissero). “Who knows? If someone wants to come and give me two first-round picks, we’ll consider it.”