Fresh off a season in which the team made an improbable run to the NFC title game, the Washington Commanders are doing everything they can to improve the roster in order to cash in on a Super Bowl during the rookie contract of budding superstar quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
On top of having to improve the offense, the Commanders also need to focus on the defense. One position that could definitely use more love is cornerback, where the team added Jonathan Jones, who is coming off a down season with the New England Patriots and is currently slated to start.
Opposite Jones is Marshon Lattimore, who is also penciled in to start but has had issues staying healthy in recent years. So, at the very least, the Commanders need more depth, but adding another proven starter is a good idea, also.
With that being a reality, Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness proposes a trade with the Miami Dolphins that lands the Commanders seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback, Jalen Ramsey.
“A trade for Ramsey also makes sense schematically. He’s been most effective in zone coverage, earning a 76.4 grade in those situations, but he has also held up well in man (70.0),” McGuinness wrote. “Adding him would allow the Commanders to keep him on the outside while sliding second-year standout Mike Sainristil into a full-time slot role, upgrading the defense at two spots in one move.”
Earlier in the week, news broke that Ramsey and the Dolphins had mutually agreed to part ways via trade, and general manager Chris Grier has since confirmed that is the case.
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“Really after a couple weeks of discussions between ourselves internally and Jalen and his representation, we decided that it was probably in the best interest for all parties to move forward,” he said. “I will say these decisions aren’t done quickly and they’re not taken lightly because we spent a lot of time this offseason working through this, talking through things. At the end of the day, Jalen did not ask for a trade.
“We went through the process, and I just felt that after numerous conversations and then talking last week with Jalen and his agent, that it was best to move forward, and it was best interest of the Miami Dolphins and for Jalen Ramsey.”
A seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, Ramsey is one of the best cornerbacks of his generation. Even though he’s north of 30, Ramsey still had a solid season in 2024, giving up a completion rate of 62% and a passer rating of 83.2 when targeted, numbers that are superior to Jones’.
Ramsey would slide into the starting boundary spot across from Lattimore, which would move Sainristil to the slot full time, where he’s best suited. Then, Jones would provide top-notch depth for all three players thanks to his experience operating in the slot and on the boundary.
In terms of draft compensation, the Commanders would likely have to give up a late Day 2 pick, at most. But considering Ramsey is still under contract for three more years on his $72 million deal after the 2025 season, Washington would be giving up that pick for a multi-year solution.
With the Commanders’ Super Bowl window wide open, they need to go all out to make sure they have enough on both sides of the ball to cash in. Adding someone like Ramsey would be a great move to improve the team’s chances.
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