PFF inadvertently makes case for why 49ers should trade for former All-Pro CB

The San Francisco 49ers skewed younger with their offseason additions for their on-the-fly roster overhaul. Pro Football Focus inadvertently laid out the case for why the 49ers should abandon that trend to add a veteran former All-Pro at cornerback.

In a piece highlighting 10 late-career veterans still playing at a high level, PFF’s Ryan Smith took a look at how effective Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey still is at age 30.

Via PFF:

It’s still unclear where Ramsey will be playing in 2025 (likely not with the Dolphins), but wherever it is, that team will be getting one of the most talented cornerbacks in the NFL.

While he’s no longer a top-five player at his position, Ramsey proved last year that he still has a lot left in the tank. He ranked 10th out of 116 qualifying cornerbacks in PFF overall grade (76.9), eighth in PFF run-defense grade (85.7) and 25th in PFF advanced coverage grade, allowing two touchdowns across 607 coverage snaps.

Making this trade runs antithetical to the 49ers offseason plan where they shed big salaries for aging, declining players. Ramsey’s situation is unique, though and the fact he’s still playing like a top-10 player at his position makes him a potentially valuable addition for San Francisco in a trade with the Dolphins.

If Ramsey can be had for a future late-round pick, the 49ers would shore up a secondary that suddenly has another question mark after Deommodore Lenoir’s arrest in Southern California on Thursday. Lenoir is flanked by second-year CB Renardo Green, and a third CB who will have to win a starting job in training camp.

Uncertainty in the secondary with a young, unproven defensive line is a recipe for disaster for the 49ers.

Acquiring Ramsey could help their cornerback room without completely breaking the bank. Ramsey carries a $16.6 million cap hit in 2025. The 49ers have plenty of cap space to withstand such an add. Over the Cap has them with more than $45 million in room.

If Ramsey’s production rapidly declines in 2025, the 49ers can release him in 2026 with an $18.4 million cap hit and $6,656,000 in savings according to Spotrac. With relatively little dead money scheduled to be on the books, the risk of having to absorb the dead cap number is worth the potential reward of bringing a Pro Bowl-caliber CB into a young, unproven secondary.

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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL trades: 49ers should pursue Jalen Ramsey based on PFF analysis