Jalen Ramsey has expressed interest in returning to the West Coast, and his name frequently surfaces in discussions about potential San Francisco 49ers trades. But what exactly would it take for the Bay Area team to land the veteran cornerback? According to Bleacher Report's Mitchel Milani, the price might not be as steep as some expect.
Currently, the 49ers' projected starting cornerbacks are Deommodore Lenoir and second-year player Renardo Green. The team also selected Upton Stout in the third round of this year's NFL Draft, and he'll compete with players like Tre Brown for a larger role. Could the 49ers look to strengthen their secondary ahead of the 2025 NFL season?
While listing potential landing spots for Ramsey, Milani suggested that the 49ers could acquire the All-Pro cornerback from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder.
"With Jalen Ramsey, he could play outside or he could play inside in this defense," Milani explained. "He's played in this scheme all the way dating back to his rookie season. The base scheme of the 49ers stems from the Seattle Seahawks and Pete Carroll and the Cover 3 scheme. Now, they tend to play a lot more quarters, but that's Robert Saleh."
Saleh returned to the 49ers' defensive coordinator role this offseason. He and Ramsey overlapped for a season in Jacksonville when Saleh served as the Jaguars' linebackers coach in 2016. Similarly, 49ers assistant head coach Gus Bradley was Jacksonville's head coach during that time.
Milani noted that Ramsey's and Lenoir's versatility to cover both inside and outside would be a valuable asset against today's dynamic offensive playmakers. He also highlighted that the 49ers revamped their defensive front this offseason, and with linebacker Fred Warner still among the league's elite defenders, adding Ramsey could help the team bounce back from a disappointing 2024 campaign.
"If they added one more final piece to their defense, that could make them go from we're considering them back in the playoffs this year to, hey, they're back," Milani continued. "They might be a real contender if they were able to add Jalen Ramsey to finish off that secondary."
Ramsey, who turns 31 in October, finished last season with 60 tackles (six for loss), four quarterback hits, two interceptions, 11 passes defensed, and one sack, per Pro Football Reference. He's a three-time All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection.