Rams angle for reunion with CB Jalen Ramsey

Seven-time Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey and the Miami Dolphins agreed to consider a trade, and the Los Angeles Rams have emerged as a leading option if the 30-year-old cornerback is down for a reunion.

Rams head coach Sean McVay didn't deny the Rams are pushing to the front of the line and are very much in the bidding for Ramsey, who played for the franchise until he was traded to the Dolphins in 2023.

"There's not too much of an update," McVay said of trade talks with the Dolphins surrounding Ramsey. "He is a total stud, and you look at, obviously he has continued to play at a really high level. He and I have kept in great touch even since we ended up trading him to Miami. Special competitor, great person, great father.

"There are a lot of layers when you're talking about a player of his caliber with regards to the contract, the compensation that they would be looking for in exchange for receiving a player of his magnitude. And so those conversations are ongoing, as I'm sure they are with multiple teams. And we'll see, but we're never going to shy away from opportunities to increase the competitiveness of our roster or add great players as long as it fits within the framework of everything that an acquisition like that would entail."

Cost was central to the previous Florida-to-California move for Ramsey. Los Angeles parted with two first-round picks and a fourth-round selection to pry Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.

Ramsey was a major contributor on defense when the Rams won the Super Bowl after the 2021 season, with four interceptions and 77 tackles in the regular season while being named first-team All-Pro for the third time.

And as has often been the case with Ramsey, compensation is at the crux of the latest conversations.

The market at cornerback was reset in the offseason by Texans left cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. ($30 million annual average) and Jaycee Horn of the Panthers. Horn's new contract brings his annual average salary to $25 million, just ahead of Ramsey ($24.1 million) and Broncos All-Pro Patrick Surtain II ($24 million).

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said prior to the 2025 NFL Draft that Ramsey didn't request a trade, but they came to the joint realization following several conversations about his contract.

Ramsey signed a three-year contract extension in September 2024 and then started all 17 games for Miami. Grier didn't select a cornerback until the 150th pick in last month's draft -- Florida's Jason Marshall Jr.

Ramsey is guaranteed $25.1 million in 2025, but a new team would owe him $21.1 million since the Dolphins have already paid his $4 million roster bonus.