Assessing the market for Jalen Ramsey, other top trade candidates
It's been a quiet spring for NFL player movement. Teams are busy with offseason workouts, getting a sense of what they've got in-house. But the wait for big transaction news may soon be over.
June 1 is a key date on the football calendar: It provides additional flexibility when it comes to moving contracts. Any dead-money hit for players traded or released after that date is spread over the next two seasons.
We already know of one marquee player who will be on the move shortly thereafter. Could there be more? Let's look at some potential trade candidates.
The game-changers
Jalen Ramsey, CB, Dolphins
It's just a matter of time until Ramsey leaves Miami. The Dolphins confirmed they're weighing trade options for the seven-time Pro Bowl corner after the two sides agreed it was best to part ways. While there's no rush, it's possible that Miami already has a deal in place and is simply waiting for June 1 to pass. At that point, the 2025 dead-money charge would drop from $25.2 million to $6.7 million.
Ramsey, 31, will be looking for an opportunity to chase another title. He's still playing at a high level, so several contenders should be interested. Considering the Dolphins only had to give up a third-round pick and a backup tight end to get him two years ago, the new asking price shouldn't be an issue either. This feels like a Rams move, doesn't it? Reuniting with Ramsey would fill a major need on the back end of their defense, and returning to the slot-heavy role he played for their Super Bowl-winning team in 2021 could help him prolong an already incredible NFL career.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
Whether the Dolphins trade Hill likely comes down to whether they prioritize the future or the present. Trading away your best player on each side of the ball would be a rough way to head into training camp. After a frustrating 2024 campaign that prompted some speculation about head coach Mike McDaniel's job security, the staff probably can't afford to lose that much talent on short notice. From a long-term perspective, though, Miami has good reason to pursue a trade now.
Hill had a league-leading 1,799 yards in 2023, but his production declined to 959 yards in 2024, his age-30 season. That's cause for concern, even if injuries were a factor. And with no guaranteed money involved in the $51.8-million cap hit he's scheduled to carry in 2026 - the last year of his contract - it seems like a foregone conclusion that this will be his last year in Miami regardless. Don't forget about his end-of-season comments either. He's since backtracked, but is the situation really salvageable? The Dolphins probably aren't going to make a deep playoff run, so maybe the future should be the priority.
Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Bengals
Why are the Bengals the way that they are? Big-money deals for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins suggested a new era had finally arrived in Cincinnati. Surely, the franchise's aggressiveness in locking up Joe Burrow's top receivers meant it would also be willing to spend on the rest of the roster. Things haven't played out that way so far, and we probably should have known. That's just not how this team does business.
The Bengals are now in a heated contract standoff with their best defensive player. Hendrickson recently said the contract situation has become personal and insisted he has no plans to play out the last year of his current deal, which calls for him to make $16 million. That's a far cry from his current market value (in excess of $30 million per year) as one of the NFL's premier edge rushers. The Bengals don't have to do anything here - they could simply call his bluff, let him sit out, and fine him for every day missed. But letting this become another Haason Reddick situation wouldn't be good for anyone.
Paying the man who has recorded 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons should be Cincinnati's preferred option. If there's no hope of closing the current gap in negotiations, it's best to move on. Plenty of teams would be interested in adding a player of Hendrickson's caliber, so perhaps the Bengals could get both a Day 2 pick and a young player to replace him.
Jaire Alexander, CB, Packers
Nobody really seems to know what's going on here. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in April that the Packers were looking to trade Alexander and had no plans to bring him back. At least one team was reportedly interested in a deal, but the former Pro Bowl cornerback was unwilling to restructure his $17.5-million salary to facilitate a trade.
A potential reconciliation does seem to have some momentum, as the Packers proposed a pay cut and Alexander wants to remain in Green Bay, a source told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. That's probably the most likely outcome, but there's also no guarantee an established Pro Bowl player will simply give up money ahead of his age-28 season. Alexander will remain one of the league's most interesting trade chips until the situation's resolved. If a cornerback-desperate team is willing to absorb his entire contract, the draft-pick compensation required to complete a trade could be minimal.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Falcons
Atlanta appears to have no intention of releasing Cousins when he's still owed $37.5 million in guarantees over the next two years. The Falcons would likely have to eat a significant portion of that money for another team to take his sizable contract in a trade - and that team would have to have a pressing need for a starter. No obvious fit stands out heading into the summer, but things can change.
A playoff contender losing its starter to injury before the season could open the door for a trade. Cousins would also be the Steelers' logical pivot if they don't get Aaron Rodgers. Being a highly paid backup isn't the worst job in the world for your average quarterback, but it can't be how Cousins wants to spend the twilight of his pro career. A trade would be best for both parties.
Expendable starters
Breece Hall, RB, Jets
Rumblings about a Hall trade have quieted since the draft. That could be a sign that the Jets are content to let him play out the last year of his contract. Don't rule out a deal just yet, though. At least two playoff contenders couldn't address their glaring needs at running back early in the draft: Dallas and Chicago. Maybe the Cowboys are satisfied with Jaydon Blue joining free-agent additions Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. The Bears, however, simply can't go into the season with D'Andre Swift as their lead back. Hall would make a lot of sense as the cherry on top of an impressive offseason.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seahawks
Seahawks fans won't want to give up on Walker after the flashes they've seen over the last three years. Maybe the team feels the same. But injuries and a downward trend in production could also make him expendable heading into his contract year. Zach Charbonnet was the more efficient running back the last two seasons, and Seattle added potential draft steal Damien Martinez in the seventh round. Walker would be worth a shot for a team that could use a little extra juice in the backfield.
Jamel Dean, CB, Buccaneers
The Bucs made a pair of notable additions to the cornerback room on Day 2 of the draft: Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. Both offer immediate starter upside. With some recent big-money extensions on Tampa Bay's books, it might make sense to move on from Dean's contract now. The veteran corner could be a worthy addition for a competitive team with a need at the position, and the cost of doing business could be as minimal as a mid-to-late-round pick swap.
Germaine Pratt, LB, Bengals
This one is pretty simple: Pratt wants out and the Bengals drafted his likely replacement, Demetrius Knight Jr., in the second round. And if the team is planning to work something out with Hendrickson, the $5.8 million it would save by parting with the veteran linebacker could come in handy. Pratt should generate a decent amount of interest coming off a career-high 143 tackles. He's also tallied two interceptions in each of the last three seasons. The Colts are a logical fit: They've got a glaring need at the position and longtime Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has now taken over the same role in Indy.
Greg Newsome II, CB, Browns
The Browns' dire cap situation requires them to be particularly selective when it comes to extending players. Newsome has shown flashes, but a tough 2024 campaign might make it difficult for Cleveland to justify a new deal. He's still just 25 years old, though, so other teams should be willing to take a chance on his first-round pedigree. Young clubs looking to build for the future might be the ones to watch here.
Wyatt Teller, G, Browns
The Browns probably don't want to subtract from an already questionable offensive line, but the offseason signing of Teven Jenkins gives them a third potential starter at guard. Does that make Teller available heading into the last year of his contract? The Browns might be wise to get something for him while they still can, and several playoff hopefuls could use a veteran upgrade on the interior.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars
Tank Bigsby began to eat into Etienne's workload last season, and that's before the Jaguars spent a fourth-round pick on Bhayshul Tuten. New general manager James Gladstone admitted he'd been eyeing Tuten since his interview process in Jacksonville. Etienne can probably be had for cheap if another team is willing to take on the fully guaranteed $6.1 million he's owed this season.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Giants
The Giants don't have to do anything here. Drafting Abdul Carter as the long-term running mate for Brian Burns makes Thibodeaux theoretically expendable, but they could always opt to maximize their wildly talented edge-rush rotation in the short term. Teams with a need at the position will come calling, though. And considering the potential value in adding a former No. 5 overall pick with two years of control remaining, the Giants could get an offer they can't refuse.
Worth monitoring
Micah Parsons, EDGE, Cowboys
Parsons wants to be a Cowboy for life, and the feeling is mutual. There's no reason for Parsons' name to come up in trade hypotheticals - giving away a young superstar like this will always be team-building malpractice. But an extension is the only thing that'll silence the lingering questions. And the Cowboys, as has been the case with several recent deals, are in no hurry. The smart money is on the two sides eventually getting something done, and Parsons reporting for OTAs without a new contract is a sign of a healthy relationship. Parsons is the rare defensive player who would command two first-round picks.
T.J. Watt, EDGE, Steelers
Watt is seeking a new deal heading into the final year of his contract. A cryptic social media post in April and the fact that he's yet to report for offseason workouts suggest that talks have gone nowhere. This has the potential to get messy. A new deal for Watt would likely have to top $30 million per year. That's a significant price for a 30-year-old pass-rusher coming off a down season, at least by his lofty standards. And Pittsburgh is notoriously stingy when it comes to handing out multi-year guarantees. However, it's difficult to imagine the two sides failing to find a solution. Not only is Watt the face of the franchise, but he also still fits the timeline the organization is committing to with the expected Rodgers signing. It wouldn't be the first time money got in the way of a longstanding relationship, though.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.