The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to trade star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins for a 2023 third-round pick (No. 77) and tight end Hunter Long, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday.
The trade will be processed on Wednesday, when the 2023 league year officially begins.
ramsey tweeted your enthusiasm to Business Sunday, writing: “I specifically prayed for this for about a month and now it’s happening! @MiamiDolphins LETSGO!”
Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, is widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and joins another former All-Pro in Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard.
Miami has built out its roster offensively over the past year, also trading for All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb.
The Dolphins needed the cornerback after informing Byron Jones that he would be released when the new league year began and made several salary cap-clearing moves in the past week, restructuring the contracts of Hill, Chubb and Terron Armstead.
Following this trade, the Dolphins have four picks in the 2023 draft: one each in the second, third, sixth and seventh rounds.
The Rams made a blockbuster trade for Ramsey in 2019, sending first-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021 and a fourth-rounder in 2021 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Los Angeles signed Ramsey to a five-year, $105 million contract less than a year later, the largest ever at his position at the time of the deal.
Ramsey has three years remaining on that contract, although there is no guaranteed money left in the final two seasons. The veteran cornerback was the only player from that core Super Bowl-winning Rams group not to sign a contract extension or be reassigned last season. Ramsey ranks third in AAV ($20 million) behind Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander ($21 million) and Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward ($20.1 million).
By trading Ramsey before June 1, the Rams would pick up $19.6 million in dead money on their 2023 salary cap along with $5.6 million in cap savings.
Ramsey becomes the third notable defensive player to be undrafted by the Rams as they work under the salary cap. The Rams had previously reciprocated with linebacker Bobby Wagner and released pass-rusher Leonard Floyd.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ramsey was the third highest ranked cornerback in the NFL last season. He finished the season with 4 interceptions, 18 passes defended, 12 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 sacks. His four interceptions tied his career high.
In seven seasons, Ramsey had 19 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, and 2 sacks. He was named a first-team All-Pro in the 2017, 2020 and 2021 seasons.