San Francisco,We – April 16, 2025

The San Francisco 49ers, battered by a 6-11 season in 2024, face a pivotal offseason with roster holes and a tight $22 million cap. A provocative trade proposal from Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn suggests moving left tackle Trent Williams to the Miami Dolphins for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro. This blockbuster, potentially viable post-June 1, 2025, aims to reshape San Francisco’s defense but carries seismic risks.

Williams, an 11-time Pro Bowler, remains an elite left tackle at 36, anchoring an offensive line that struggled in 2024 (22nd in QB pressure allowed). However, injuries limited him to 10 games, and his $21 million cap hit in 2025 strains a budget already stretched by Brock Purdy’s looming extension. Cohn posits Williams may not fit a mini-rebuild, especially with John Lynch hinting at his uncertain future.

Ramsey, 30, offers a solution to San Francisco’s depleted secondary. After losing Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga, the 49ers’ defense ranked 20th, allowing 24.3 points per game. Ramsey’s seven Pro Bowls and familiarity with Robert Saleh and Gus Bradley from Jacksonville make him a plug-and-play star, capable of shutting down top receivers and mentoring young corners like Renardo Green.

For Miami, Williams fills a gaping void. With Terron Armstead retired, the Dolphins’ offensive line crumbled, exposing Tua Tagovailoa to 38 sacks in 2024. Williams, despite his age, would provide instant stability, boosting a run game that ranked 25th (102 yards per game). Trading Ramsey, whose $21.1 million cap hit looms, aligns with Miami’s pivot toward youth and cap flexibility.

The trade’s appeal is clear but fraught with peril. Williams’s departure would expose Purdy, who faced pressure on 32% of dropbacks without him. The 49ers’ 11 draft picks, including No. 11, could target tackles like Kelvin Banks Jr., but none match Williams’s pedigree. Ramsey, while elite, doesn’t address needs at defensive tackle or edge, where Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd’s exits left gaps.

Financially, the deal is feasible but tight. Swapping Williams’s $21 million for Ramsey’s $21.1 million offers little cap relief, potentially forcing cuts like George Kittle. Miami, with $18 million in 2025 cap space, can absorb Williams but risks his durability. Both teams must weigh short-term gains against long-term roster stability in a post-June 1 deal.

Strategically, the trade signals a defensive shift for San Francisco. Saleh’s scheme thrives with lockdown corners, and Ramsey could elevate a unit alongside Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Yet, weakening the offensive line risks derailing Shanahan’s system, which leaned heavily on Christian McCaffrey (1,668 total yards) in 2024. Miami, meanwhile, gains a proven protector but loses a defensive cornerstone.

This proposal, while tantalizing, feels like a long shot. Williams and Ramsey are foundational to their teams, and the trade’s complexity—cap constraints, age concerns, positional priorities—makes it a high-stakes gamble. As the 49ers plot their 2025 rebound, Lynch and Shanahan must decide if sacrificing an offensive pillar for a defensive star is worth the cost.