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Should Falcons spin the wheels on a Jalen Ramsey trade?
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Should Falcons spin the wheels on a Jalen Ramsey trade?

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL  |  By Alex Lord  |  Last updated Apr 15, 2025 12:20 PM ET

The Falcons didn’t do a lot to improve one of the worst defenses in football last year.

They essentially replaced Justin Simmons, Grady Jarrett, and Matthew Judon with Jordan Fuller, Morgan Fox, and Leonard Floyd; as one NFL executive described it, the Falcons replaced average with average in free agency.

The club also brought in Divine Deablo and brought back Mike Hughes and Dee Alford to bolster the second and third levels of the defense. It leaves a lot to be desired.

It puts immense pressure on the draft picks from past years to develop into legitimate contributors. Ruke Orhorhoro, Bralen Trice, Brandon Dorlus, Arnold Ebiketie, Zach Harrison, Troy Andersen, Clark Phillips, DeMarcco Hellams, and DeAngelo Malone is a lot of draft capital over the years, and virtually none of them, outside of maybe Ebiketie, have developed into consistent contributors.

It also puts pressure on Terry Fontenot to nail the upcoming draft, which only features five picks at this time. Fontenot has struggled in this area, even more so with finding immediate contributors outside of the first round.

However, finding proven talents on the trade market is much easier, and a star conerback has suddenly become available. According to Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins and Jalen Ramsey have agreed to explore trade options, with the insider noting it wouldn’t be a superise if he played elsewhere in 2025.

The Falcons have about $10 million in cap space, so they’d have to create some room to maneuver, but that can happen by restructuring or extending Jessie Bates III and Darnell Mooney. Of course, a post-June 1 trade of Kirk Cousins would bring the greatest financial relief, though I’m not sure the Falcons can count on that.

As far as Jalen Ramsey, he has a guaranteed salary of $24.3 million in 2025 with a cap number of roughly $16.6 million. The Dolphins and Ramsey just agreed to a three-year, $72.3 million contract extension back in September, which made him the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Past this year, Ramsey is owed $66.7 million in cash over the next three seasons.

That’s not just a little contract to be trading for, but that should knock down Miami’s asking price. For the Falcons, the connection and need is there. Head coach Raheem Morris was the defensive coordinator for the Rams during part of Ramsey’s tenure in Los Angeles. Morris saw firsthand just how talented the All-Pro is, and Ramsey is a big fan of Morris, praising him when Atlanta hired him.

Ramsey will be 34 years old by the time his contract is over, and while some Falcons fans may be concerned with his ability at that age, a move to safety at the backend of his career, similar to Charles Woodson, is certainly a possibility.

I can’t believe I have to say it, but there’s probably some fans out there thinking about this right now. Just because the Falcons re-signed Mike Hughes and Dee Alford, to go along with Clark Phillips and Kevin King, doesn’t mean a cornerback in the draft or a trade for Jalen Ramsey is off the board.

A Jalen Ramsey trade could allow Hughes to bump inside to the nickel role and would give the Falcons an elite secondary with three All-Pros. He’s not a pass rusher, but there’s more than one way to skin a cat. A successful pass rush is about pressure and coverage; each plays a critical role, and improving the secondary would improve the pass rush.

Depending on the asking price, the Falcons should spin the wheels on a Jalen Ramsey trade.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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