The Miami Dolphins had one of the best cornerback rooms in football a year ago, with Xavien Howard, Byron Jones and Nik Needham as the team’s top three and Eric Rowe providing depth.
Heading into 2023, Howard is coming off of his worst year, Jones could return from a full year off following Achilles surgery, Needham suffered the same injury in 2022 and is hitting the market and Rowe is set to be a free agent as well.
With that said, Miami should consider making a move to improve their situation at the position, and Pro Football Focus provided an interesting option for the Dolphins.
In a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, the Dolphins would give up second-round selections in 2023 and 2024 to receive cornerback Jalen Ramsey and a 2023 fifth-round compensatory pick.
Miami’s new defensive architect, Vic Fangio, would get one of the top cornerbacks in the league at his position and could pair him with Howard, who hopes to return back to form. Moving on from Jones and sliding in Kader Kohou, who made the leap from undrafted free agent to starter in 2022, in the slot could make this secondary even scarier than it has the potential to be already.
The Dolphins would have Ramsey for three more years at $18.3 million per season, which is more than doable. Obviously, there is a fear that Ramsey falls off in 2023 and beyond as he reaches his 30s, but the opportunity to acquire a top cornerback without giving up a top pick is enticing.
