'Relationships are hard' – NFL reporter pulls back the curtain on coach's feelings on Jalen Ramsey situation
Fans of the Miami Dolphins were left shaking their heads after it was revealed that the team and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey had mutually agreed to seek a trade for the veteran defender. Naturally, given how thin the cornerback room was, some might have asked, "how can you let a player that good leave?" Some […]
Fans of the Miami Dolphins were left shaking their heads after it was revealed that the team and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey had mutually agreed to seek a trade for the veteran defender.
Naturally, given how thin the cornerback room was, some might have asked, "how can you let a player that good leave?" Some of those surely quickly recalled Ramsey's, let's say, sometimes challenging disposition and attitude.
And that seems to have been confirmed on Thursday by NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe on the league's network. Wolfe quoted Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver regarding the team's issue with Ramsey, noting that "relationships are hard".
"I talked with their defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver today about the situation, and his quote kind of sums up why the Dolphins and Ramsey are here. He said that Ramsey has been a great player for us, but relationships are hard, and he's chosen to move on.
"This isn't about a guy who wants more money or a guy who can't play anymore. This is just a situation where relationships are hard, and the relationship between the Dolphins and Ramsey has essentially run out. I expect him to get traded at some point in June or July. They have talked to a lot of teams. I'm told the Dolphins are aware of teams that Ramsey would be interested in. We've heard the LA Rams and their coaching and GM staff talk and rave about Jalen Ramsey. There's other places where he has had coaches he's loved to play for in the past, whether it be Raheem Morris in Atlanta or Ejiro Evero in Carolina.
"We'll kind of see how the money factors in – that's going to be a big part of it, but for the Dolphins, they're already planning to move on. They're speaking in the past. He's not going to be at OTAs, and for them, they're planning on developing their young corners, including Cam Smith, their third-year player, to try to replace Jalen Ramsey." – Cameron Wolfe, NFL Network
It's unfortunate that Miami wasn't able to convince Ramsey, who they gave a raise just before the 2024 season began, to stay in a city that many players in the league would prefer to be. But the Dolphins haven't appeared to be a team with a strong core as it relates to leadership, nor do they appear to be on the cusp of winning a championship, so it's understandable to a degree why Ramsey would be looking to get out.
That said, if the Dolphins are going to grant him his wish, as they've said they're looking into doing, they'd better be looking out for what package is best for them rather than granting him his top destination, if the two don't match up. The Dolphins are already going to take on a dead cap hit because of his desire to leave and be left with a massive roster hole with few options who appear capable of filling it.
We'll likely find out once June 1 comes and goes exactly where Ramsey will be headed, as that's when the dead cap hit for 2025 will be reduced significantly, as Wolfe noted.
