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Jalen Ramsey #5 of the Miami Dolphins looks on prior to a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sept. 8, 2024. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers made a blockbuster trade on Monday at a time when the NFL offseason normally gets its quietest between minicamps and training camp.
Miami traded cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Steelers for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Ramsey, a seven-time Pro Bowler, wanted a trade this offseason, and Fitzpatrick returned to the Dolphins after a successful run with the Steelers.
Here’s a look at who won and lost this trade.
Winners
Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers’ new quarterback has a reliable tight end in Smith, who just had a career year amid 88 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. Smith is the latest offseason addition to bolster the Steelers receiving corps, which also features star wide receiver DK Metcalf.
Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey joins a top-tier defense in Pittsburgh that has eyes on a Super Bowl run, and he will be a central player in the team’s secondary. He’s still playing at a high level amid two interceptions and 60 tackles last season. In addition, Ramsey has a legitimate chance to land a big extension since the Steeler previously gave cornerback Darius Slay a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason.
This trade was a win-win for Ramsey and Fitzpatrick overall. Fitzpatrick returns to the Dolphins where he played from 2018 to 2019, and he will be a key player for a secondary in need of a veteran star. It also puts him in a good spot for an extension with two years left on his contract.
Jonnu Smith
Smith is also a true winner in this trade with the chance to play in an offense led by one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, though Rodgers is in the twilight of his career. In addition, Smith won’t have to do it all at tight end, since the Steelers have an established veteran in Pat Freiermuth. Smith could also land an extension if he plays well enough since he has two years remaining on his deal.
Steelers
Overall, the Steelers won this trade by getting more for less. The acquisition of Smith and a seventh-round pick could easily trump giving up a fifth-round pick, especially if Pittsburgh finds a diamond in the rough with that 2027 pick.
Losers
Dolphins
The Dolphins gave up an extra player in Smith after a career year. Miami will need tight end Julian Hill to step up after just 12 catches for 100 yards in his third season, and Hill was second among the team’s tight ends for catches and yards. Miami added Pharaoh Brown and rookie Hayden Rucci this offseason.
Tua Tagovailoa
The Dolphins quarterback is out one of his favorite pass catchers, and that doesn’t bode well after another concussion-riddled season. It allows teams to put more pressure on Dolphins star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, thus making Tagovailoa’s job that much harder.
Dolphins Corners
Ramsey leaving relieves salary cap space but it leaves a void among the team’s cornerbacks. Kader Kohou is the Dolphins’ best corner now after two picks and 45 tackles in 2024 but experience is otherwise lacking for the Dolphins among corners.
Other AFC North Teams
With the Steelers’ improvements, the AFC North only gets more competitive. That’s bad news for the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals especially know all too well after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2024, and the Browns’ improvements this offseason aren’t catching up with the Steelers. Baltimore now has two serious challengers for the AFC North throne this season.
Rest of AFC East
The Dolphins freed up salary cap space in a division where the New England Patriots have improved quickly with the league’s most salary cap space this year. If the Dolphins can make any moves before the season, the team could position itself to be a bigger threat in the division.
However, it’s also an opportunity for the future. By 2027, the Dolphins are projected to have the second-best salary cap space in the division behind the New York Jets, and the Buffalo Bills’ core will be aging at that point.
Matthew Davis is an experienced, award-winning journalist who has covered major professional and college sports for years. His writing has appeared on Heavy, the Star Tribune, and The Catholic Spirit. He has a degree in mass communication from North Dakota State University.
