The Miami Dolphins have to finish the 2025 season in the playoffs or it’s almost certain that owner Stephen Ross will blow up the current regime and head coach Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier will be looking for new jobs.
After a hot start in his first two seasons leading the Dolphins, Miami took a massive step back last season and missed the playoffs with an (8-9) record in the regular season.
Just before the 2024 campaign began last July, the Dolphins brass made the choice to ink Tua Tagovailoa to a contract extension for four years worth over $200 million. That decision tied both McDaniel’s and Grier’s future to the former Alabama QB, who played in all 17 games for the first time in his year during the 2023 season and was playing his best pro football with the Dolphins.
But last year, with expectations only heightened after the Dolphins were coming off an 11-win season in 2023, Miami took a significant step in the wrong direction.
Early in the season — Tagovailoa, who has struggled with concussions throughout his career — suffered another one and his career appeared to be in jeopardy. The Dolphins didn’t win a single game as he sat on the bench for a four-contest stretch, and their offense plummeted to last in the league.
Heading into the NFL Draft this weekend, there are plenty of questions surrounding the plan for the Dolphins and the vision moving forward. Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been linked to several trade rumors, but as of now, it appears as if he’s content on staying in Miami.
Still, anything can happen during the NFL Draft and CBS Sports is predicting the Dolphins are going to move one of their top defensive players to the 49ers in exchange for draft capital.
CBS predicts the 49ers will send their 2025 third-round pick (100th overall) and 2025 seventh-round pick (227th overall) in exchange for 7-time Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey.
The team that acquires Ramsey will owe him $21.1 million in guaranteed money in 2025, so his new team will have to have some salary cap space, which is one reason why the 49ers would be a solid option (They have $38.6 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap).
The 49ers are going into the draft with 11 picks, which is tied for the most in the NFL, so they definitely have some draft capital that they could used in a potential trade.
One reason San Francisco might be interested is because the 49ers coaching staff is familiar with Ramsey: The cornerback was drafted by the Jaguars in 2016 and Jacksonville's head coach at the time was Gus Bradley, who's now the assistant head coach in San Francisco. Also, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was Jacksonville's linebackers coach in 2016, so he also has some familiarity with Ramsey.