While the New York Jets are resetting their organization with a new regime and a fresh direction following a tumultuous 2024 season, one of their division rivals is on the verge of spiraling into chaos.
The Miami Dolphins, once seen as a legitimately up-and-coming team in the AFC East, are now reportedly looking to trade Jalen Ramsey. This comes less than a year after making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that the Dolphins and Ramsey will “mutually explore” trade opportunities, and the expectation appears to be that he has played his final game as a member of the organization.
Miami is already dealing with the headcase that is Tyreek Hill and appears to be exploring trade opportunities with him as well. They may not receive the same level of attention as the Jets, but the Dolphins are quickly fighting to solidify themselves as the new laughingstock of the division.
Dolphins pushing NY Jets for AFC East laughingstock crown with Jalen Ramsey news
The Dolphins signed Ramsey to a massive three-year, $72.3 million extension last September in a move that made him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback at the time. Just seven months later, he already appears to be on his way out.
The quick turnaround would have severe ramifications on the Dolphins’ salary cap situation. Trading Ramsey before June 1 would trigger a dead cap charge of $25.213 million in 2025.
The other issue? The Dolphins already paid Ramsey a $4 million roster bonus back on March 16. If a trade was even remotely on the table, it would’ve made far more sense to move him before that bonus kicked in. Instead, Miami handed over the cash and may now be shipping him out anyway.
The Dolphins have become a case study in how not to run an NFL organization. For years, Miami has struggled to draft and develop talent, and when they finally hit on a few picks, they let those players walk in free agency.
The likes of Robert Hunt, Christian Wilkins, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jevon Holland were all homegrown standouts, and all were allowed to walk in free agency.
Rather than committing to a youth movement, the Dolphins pushed their chips in on expensive, aging talent. They dished out big-money deals to stars like Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill, only to find themselves walking those decisions back just a year later.
Ramsey is now apparently on the trade block, while Hill has stirred the pot with inconsistent messaging and offseason drama. Now, the team finds itself without cap flexibility, short on rookie contracts, and stuck with the same regime that created this mess.
It’s the kind of dysfunction Jets fans are all too familiar with — but this time, they’re the ones watching from the outside.
For once, it’s not the Jets making headlines for their organizational malpractice. Maybe, just maybe, their days of being the AFC East’s punching bag are finally over. Miami is pushing for that crown.