Prediction: Falcons Land Jalen Ramsey — But at What Cost?

Throughout the offseason, the Miami Dolphins and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey have been heading toward a split. This has now culminated in reports that Ramsey will not attend the Dolphins’ minicamp, as both sides search for a suitable trade. Two teams rumored to be in the mix are the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons. As a Falcons fan, I predict that Atlanta will inevitably win the bidding war for Ramsey — but I don’t believe it’s a good idea.

You may wonder why I’m against the possibility of Ramsey joining the Falcons. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure myself. I’ve always been a huge fan of Jalen Ramsey. He was the player I wanted us to take in the 2016 NFL Draft. Since then, he’s been a lockdown corner and has consistently performed at a high level with every team he’s played on.

With the Dolphins, Ramsey only posted five interceptions, but he was still ranked as the 16th-best cornerback by PFF in 2024. He finished top 15 in interception rate and, more impressively, led all corners in total pressures. Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and his wide-nine scheme, the Falcons will prioritize versatile playmakers who can line up across multiple spots — Ramsey fits that mold perfectly.

Meanwhile, the Falcons have a glaring weakness at cornerback, with Mike Hughes, Kevin King, and Dee Alford expected to get significant snaps in what is shaping up to be a make-or-break year. Ramsey is also a huge fan of head coach Raheem Morris, once calling him “one of the, if not the best, coaches in the NFL.”

A reunion would undoubtedly strengthen Atlanta’s secondary, provide mentorship to young defensive backs like Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr., and finally give A.J. Terrell a proven running mate. Still, there are some real concerns.

First, Ramsey is under contract with the Dolphins and would require notable draft compensation. The Falcons already traded away their 2026 first-round pick (to the Rams for James Pearce Jr.) and their 2026 fifth-rounder (to the Eagles in the Xavier Watts trade). That leaves them with just two Day 2 picks — and giving up one would further deplete already thin draft capital.

Second, the Falcons already rank fourth in the league in active cap allocations (via Spotrac), and Ramsey recently signed a three-year, $72 million extension. Making this work financially would require creative restructuring — likely involving cuts or surprise veteran trades, as seen with Grady Jarrett’s release in 2025.

Additionally, Miami’s extension of Ramsey appears to be a deal that hasn’t paid off as intended. While Ramsey still offers elite on-field value, paying a premium at cornerback doesn’t always move the needle unless you also have complementary pieces, roster depth, and good injury luck.
Lastly, this move would continue GM Terry Fontenot’s trend of believing the Falcons are just one player away from contention. I do believe many of the pieces Fontenot has added — like Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Jesse Bates — could be part of a Super Bowl-caliber core. The offensive line is elite, and it should give Michael Penix Jr. the time and confidence he needs to develop and (hopefully) snap the Falcons’ seven-year playoff drought.

But here’s the problem: this mindset hasn’t worked. Last year, the Falcons traded for Matthew Judon, signed Justin Simmons, and gave Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed. Even after addressing three glaring weaknesses, the team still missed the playoffs. Other flaws surfaced — and that’s the reality of NFL rosters. Taking big swings is important, don’t get me wrong. Fontenot wasted two years of valuable football by handing the offense to Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder. But when these big swings fail, they leave a mess for the future.

Terry Fontenot has now been GM for four years. If the Falcons miss the playoffs again, he and Raheem Morris could both be out. A team with no cap space and no draft capital is not a situation an incoming GM or head coach wants to inherit — and it could send this team into a prolonged spiral.

Seven years into a playoff drought, I’m not sure giving up more valuable draft compensation is worth it.
I truly want Jalen Ramsey to contribute to this team. He brings elite coverage skills, leadership, and most importantly — grit. I’d love a trade for him if it could be done for anything less than a third-round pick. But like the Cousins acquisition, I fear it would once again mortgage the future — because Fontenot believes we’re just one corner away from contention.

I’d love to believe that too. But so far under Fontenot, it’s never been the case.