When the Los Angeles Rams traded Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins, it wasn’t due to circumstances, poor compatibility, or the Rams’ 5-12 record. It stemmed from Ramsey’s desire for more guaranteed money. While L.A. could have potentially satisfied Ramsey’s demands, it would have come at the expense of other players and the overall team roster. A year later, the contrasting salary cap situations of the Rams and Dolphins indicate that GM Les Snead made the right decision to trade Ramsey to Miami for a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long.
The acquisition of Ramsey appears to have repercussions for the Dolphins, potentially leading to the loss of one of their top defensive players: Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is anticipated to enter free agency because Miami lacks the necessary cap space to apply the franchise tag to him.
Development out of Indy: Several league sources expect #Dolphins’ Christian Wilkins to avoid franchise tag. Miami source says keeping options open, but teams bracing for star DT to hit free agency.
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Christian Wilkins, aged 28, showcased his prowess in 2023 with a career-best nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits from the interior defensive line. Drafted 13th overall in 2019, Wilkins is anticipated to command a contract worth approximately $23 million per season if he enters free agency, with the deadline for tagging players approaching on Tuesday. Should he remain untagged, Wilkins will be eligible to sign with another team starting from March 13th.
The Dolphins’ acquisition of Ramsey compelled them to guarantee his salaries for 2023 and 2024, alongside an $11 million roster bonus, resulting in $25.5 million guaranteed for the 30-year-old cornerback in 2024. Despite suffering a significant knee injury the previous year, Ramsey managed to return and participate in 10 games, securing three interceptions and earning a Pro Bowl nod. However, he ranked as the second-oldest player on Miami’s defense in the previous season, trailing only Xavien Howard, who was released due to cap constraints.
Presently, the Dolphins are projected to exceed the 2024 salary cap by $31.7 million, indicating substantial work is required to achieve compliance.
Conversely, the Rams enter free agency with a surplus of over $40 million in cap space, having enjoyed a similarly successful 2023 season as the Dolphins. Although Miami won one more game, their performance in the wild card round paled in comparison to that of the Rams. Despite boasting a high-scoring offense, Miami’s attempts to construct a top-tier defense under coordinator Vic Fangio, including acquiring Ramsey, fell short of expectations. With Fangio’s departure and Howard’s release, Wilkins appears poised to be the next casualty.
As for whether the Rams would entertain the idea of acquiring Christian Wilkins, their current roster dynamics might not offer him a defined role, given the successful pairing of Kobie Turner alongside Aaron Donald.
It seems evident which team emerged victorious from the trade.
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