In advance of his second Dolphins season, Jalen Ramsey has agreed to another big-ticket deal. The All-Pro corner has worked out a three-year, $72.3M extension, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Cameron Wolfe.
This pact will include $55.3M guaranteed, Rapoport adds. Ramsey and the Dolphins worked out the agreement a few days ago, but the news has now broken in preparation for his return to the practice field. Ramsey is a candidate to suit up for Week 1 on Sunday with the title of the league’s highest-paid corner.
Patrick Surtain moved the top of the position’s market forward earlier this week when he agreed to a Broncos extension averaging $24M per season. Ramsey’s deal checks in at $24.1M annually. The 31-year-old had two years remaining on his existing pact (the five-year, $100M extension he inked in 2020), one which was restructured this spring to clear 2024 cap space. No guaranteed salary was in place for 2025, but that will no doubt change in the wake of today’s news.
Acquired via trade with the Rams last offseason, Ramsey was limited to 10 games in his debut Miami campaign due to a knee injury. He recorded three interceptions and five pass deflections during that span, although returning in time for the team’s wild-card game. The former No. 6 overall pick earned his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2023, setting himself up for another notable payday. Ramsey rose to the top of the pecking order on his 2020 deal and has now managed to replicate that feat four years later.
The Dolphins moved on from Xavien Howard this offseason, one in which Kendall Fuller was added in free agency. The Ramsey-Fuller tandem will be counted on to anchor the team’s secondary as Miami has a number of inexperienced options on the depth chart, although it remains to be seen if they will both be on the field for Week 1. Head coach Mike McDaniel — who himself recently landed a multi-year extension — noted during his Thursday press availability that he is unsure if Ramsey will get enough practice time in between now and the season opener to be able to play (h/t Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald).
Miami has qualified for the postseason in each of the past two years, bowing out in the wild-card round both times. The team will be expected to improve in that regard in 2024, with many key players on offense (quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in particular) landing sizable new contracts to remain in place for the foreseeable future. The Dolphins ranked 15th against the pass last year, so taking a step forward in that regard will be a goal for the coming campaign. Ramsey is positioned to handle a central role in that effort through the 2028 campaign.
Just like the Surtain deal, this pact will represent a target for extension-eligible corners next offseason. The likes of Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley and Jaycee Horn will be in line for new deals in the spring. The previous high point for the position in terms of AAV was $21M, but a new benchmark has been established. It will be interesting to see how the market takes shape once the next wave of monster extensions comes about in 2025.
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Conclusion:
As Jalen Ramsey secures his place as the highest-paid corner in the league with his impressive extension, the Dolphins are gearing up for an exciting season ahead. With key players like Ramsey and Fuller leading the defense, Miami is poised to make a strong push for the playoffs and improve on their past performances. The NFL market for cornerbacks is evolving, setting the stage for future blockbuster deals and exciting developments in the league. Stay tuned for more updates and breaking news in the world of football!
