The Dallas Cowboys should absolutely explore trading for Jalen Ramsey, here's what it would cost

Trading for Ramsey would be uncharacteristic of the Cowboys front office but then again so was trading a third-round draft pick for wide receiver George Pickens. Last year, Dallas teased an "all-in" offseason and loudly failed to deliver. If they were to add Ramsey weeks after getting Pickens, it would be much closer to an "all-in." 

Just like wide receiver before the Pickens trade, the Cowboys have a massive need at cornerback. Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro, would be an immediate starter for the Cowboys alongside DaRon Bland. Though Ramsey has thrived in the slot in the past, he mostly spends his time on the outside, which could make things easier on the Cowboys as they appear to have more choices to start at nickel, including Caelen Carson and Israel Mukuamu. Kaiir Elam is currently the likeliest option to start outside. 

But is it realistic for the Cowboys to trade for Ramsey in the first place? I reached out to A to Z Sports' Dolphins expert Kyle Crabbs to get an estimate on how much it would cost to land the standout defensive back. 

How much would trading for Jalen Ramsey cost the Cowboys? 

Crabbs: The price for Dallas to acquire Ramsey will, in part, be the Dolphins’ responsibility to decide. The major blockade for the Dolphins finding appropriate value relative to Ramsey’s skill set and star power has been the financial commitments any team angling to acquire him has to onboard.

If the Dolphins are going to be stingy about paying down any more of his salary for 2025, it doesn’t feel likely that the price point would be any higher than a 5th-round draft choice. The Dolphins have already paid Ramsey a $4 million roster bonus — if they chose to invest a few more million dollars, it could be the bargaining chip needed to ask Dallas to send a 4th-round choice.

Conveniently enough, the Cowboys still have both but do not have their 3rd-round choice (George Pickens) or their 6th-round choice (Jordan Phillips).

Would the Cowboys pay it? 

On the surface, a fourth-round pick in a scenario where the Dolphins take on some of the financial burden of trading Ramsey away doesn't seem like much. But it's difficult to envision the Cowboys being comfortable with two picks in the Top 150. 

This feels like the kind of move that would happen if they can convince the Dolphins to do a fifth-rounder instead. Maybe an additional pick swap could be enough to get Miami to pitch in for Ramsey's contract.