After star cornerback Jalen Ramsey was placed on the trading block by the Los Angeles Rams, it became clear to him that there was only one place he wanted to land.
He got his wish, and the Miami Dolphins got their guy.
When Ramsey’s agent David Mulugheta initially talked to the 28-year-old about the idea of joining the Dolphins, Ramsey was open to it. His interest only grew from there, and soon enough, he viewed Miami as the only place he was willing to go.
The situation worked out for everyone after the Dolphins acquired the veteran in a trade earlier this month.
“The first time Mulugheta raised the Dolphins to Ramsey, the corner responded that, yes, that was a place he’d go,” wrote Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “Quickly, his feelings on going to Miami would grow stronger.
“He, of course, wanted to go to a place where he could win, and where he’d fit football-wise. Having helped other DBs shine in Jacksonville (A.J. Bouye) and L.A. (Darious Williams), he also liked the idea of lifting up young safety Jevon Holland and forming a dominant corner duo with Xavien Howard. That he had friends in Miami, like Holland, Howard, Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis didn’t hurt either, amid the flurry of DMs and texts he’d gotten from players across the league trying to recruit him to their teams.”
As it turns out, Miami’s weather and climate helped influence Ramsey’s feelings on the Dolphins.
“But one reason some teams had trepidation about trading for him—he’ll turn 29 in October, and it’s rare that corners keep dominating well into their 30s—also gave him perspective not just to fixate on the on-field stuff,” Breer wrote. “As such, having played in warm weather in college at Florida State, and in the pros in Jacksonville and Los Angeles, the right climate mattered. What was best for daughters certainly did too (like their dad, they like warm weather).
“In taking all of it into account, boxes kept checking for Miami. His stance hardened.
‘”I’m not going anywhere but there,’ he told Mulugheta. ‘So make sure that’s where I end up.'”
It’s fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at how everything went down, and it’s amazing to learn that Ramsey was so adamant about joining the Dolphins. It appears that Miami’s newest star is a player who’s entirely committed to the organization.
Ramsey already has quite a resume, and he’ll look to add to it with the Dolphins. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro selection and one-time Super Bowl champion.
This past season, the former first-round pick had four interceptions, 18 passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. In the previous season, he had similar numbers: four interceptions, 16 passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
He’s going to be a major addition to a Dolphins defense that failed to meet expectations this past season. The unit allowed 23.5 points per game, which was the ninth-worst mark in the NFL. With any luck, the upcoming season will be different.
It has been a big offseason for the Dolphins, who are clearly ready to win now and have no interest in waiting around. The 2023 campaign should be an exciting one with Ramsey and several other newcomers joining the squad.
