The San Francisco 49ers have seen a number of key veterans depart this offseason, including Deebo Samuel, Charvarius Ward, and Dre Greenlaw — and now, they could be eyeing a bold move to retool their defense: trading for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Ramsey and the Miami Dolphins have mutually agreed to explore trade possibilities. That news opens the door for a potential blockbuster deal — and Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn has floated a surprising trade scenario: sending 11-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams to Miami in exchange for Ramsey.
With Dolphins LT Terron Armstead announcing his retirement, Miami suddenly has a major need on the offensive line. Williams, despite being 36 and coming off a 10-game season, remains one of the league’s elite tackles. However, his $21 million cap hit in 2025 and the 49ers’ current draft position (11th overall) could push San Francisco to consider moving on — especially if they believe they can draft his successor.
From a financial standpoint, finalizing a deal after June 1 would make the cap logistics more manageable for both teams. Ramsey, under contract through 2028 after a recent three-year, $72 million extension, has a $16 million cap hit this season — more manageable than Williams’ number.
Swapping Williams for Ramsey would give the 49ers an immediate fix for the secondary after losing Ward, and it wouldn’t be just a cold transaction — Ramsey has ties to current 49ers coaches Robert Saleh and Gus Bradley from their time together in Jacksonville. That familiarity could make a reunion especially appealing for the star cornerback.
Despite parting with major pieces on both sides of the ball, the 49ers’ offense still boasts playmakers like Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and first-round rookie Ricky Pearsall. With Kyle Shanahan at the helm, they could maintain offensive firepower while reloading on defense with a player of Ramsey’s caliber.
If the 49ers do view this as a soft reset rather than a full rebuild, turning an aging (though still elite) veteran into a younger defensive cornerstone with championship pedigree might be the kind of bold swing that keeps them in contention.
What do you think — would you pull the trigger on a Ramsey-for-Williams trade if you were in charge of the Niners?
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