The Miami Dolphins and cornerback Jalen Ramsey have agreed to a multi-year extension that makes the veteran cornerback the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback each year, a league source said Friday.
The extension is for three years and is worth up to $72.3 million, including $55.3 million guaranteed, according to the source. The contract’s $24.1 million annual value puts him just ahead of Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr.’s $24 million a year. must win in the deal he agreed to earlier this week.
Ramsey enters his second season with the Dolphins after being traded to the franchise in 2023 from the Los Angeles Rams for a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long.
Ramsey, who turns 30 in October, began his first season in Miami on injured reserve while recovering from meniscus surgery after suffering a non-contact injury during training camp. However, he made a notable impact on the Dolphins’ defense during his debut in Week 8.
Ramsey finished last season with three interceptions and five passes defensed. Miami ranked 27th in the NFL in opposing quarterback passer rating (100.2) before Week 8 and 15th after allowing a passer rating of 87.7 with Ramsey in the lineup, according to Trumedia.
Why the deal makes sense for both sides
Ramsey once again set the market for cornerback contracts. He broke the $20 million barrier in average annual value in 2020 and reclaimed the positional crown with his latest extension.
He was previously tied to the Dolphins through 2025, but the organization recognized an opportunity to secure a defensive star as the cornerback market continues to rise around the league. About 76 percent of Ramsey’s contract is guaranteed, which is also in line with the top of the market.
Ramsey continued to rank fifth in annual money under the previous conditions, so that contract held well for four years. But with Surtain and the Atlanta Falcons’ AJ Terrell (four years, $81 million) signing bigger deals this year, this looks like the next position group to take off.
If Miami were to wait for Ramsey to enter his contract year, the market would likely look significantly different, perhaps giving him a chance to target something closer to $30 million annually if he has a strong season.
So why now for Ramsey, rather than pushing the envelope for every possible dollar? Age is certainly a factor, and meniscus surgery cut into his 2023 season. Another injury like that could wipe out any ideas of a market deal.
Now, he can claim to have signed two record deals during the prime of his career. – Jeff Howe, NFL national insider
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(Photo: Rich Story / Getty Images)
