The Miami Dolphins are exploring a potential trade to remove veteran cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the equation. Naturally, every contending team in the NFL has been named as a potential suitor, with the Washington Commanders near the top of that list.
However, this is one player who the Commanders would probably be best advised to steer clear of, for a multitude of reasons.
First and foremost, Ramsey would come at quite a price. He is set to earn more than $16 million in 2025 and upwards of $25 million in each of the next three years. That's a whopping figure that is going to put teams off from taking the plunge.
Any team interested in his services will also have to surrender multiple valuable draft picks. The Commanders, who've already sacrificed such capital for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and left tackle Laremy Tunsil this offseason, cannot afford to do that.
Potential Jalen Ramsey trade is a step too far for Commanders GM Adam Peters
When a player of Ramsey's stature becomes available, it's usually worth the risk. The only problem is that the former first-round pick is coming off arguably the worst season of his career, in which he failed to make the Pro Bowl for the first time since he was a rookie. His production was good, but the cracks began to show.
He's now on the wrong side of 30 years old. That's ancient by cornerback standards, and Washington already employs one with age concerns in Marshon Lattimore.
Ramsey is also simply not a good cultural fit for Dan Quinn's clubhouse, in which humility and accountability are emphasized. Though he has been one of the league's premier corners throughout his career, the former Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams standout has always had one of the league's biggest egos.
The Dolphins have been plagued by what appears to be a lack of leadership in recent times. This can be considered a negative reflection on Ramsey (among others) as he is supposed to be one of the primary players shouldering that responsibility.
Simply put, there are too many red flags surrounding Ramsey. The Commanders would be best served not to take the bait.
Washington could use some more help at cornerback, but not in the form of a declining "me before team" veteran performer on a high-priced contract. A hopefully healthy Lattimore and promising second-year contributor Mike Sainristil can be a quality pair of starters, while veteran free-agent acquisition Jonathan Jones figures to be a key contributor as well.
If Washington brings in any additional cornerbacks this offseason, they should be depth signings, ideally through the later rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Adam Peters needs to leave Ramsey alone.
