The Miami Dolphins have made a significant trade on their final day of June, sending cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The teams announced the deal later on Monday.
According to reports, Miami had previously paid Ramsey $4 million this offseason, with an additional $3 million added to facilitate the trade. In return, the Steelers are giving Ramsey a raise of $1.5 million and covering the rest of his salary for the season. Pittsburgh is also extending Smith to a one-year, $12 million deal.
The trade marks a major move by both teams, with the Dolphins losing a key player but gaining a strong safety in Fitzpatrick. The Steelers are bolstering their defense, which ranked eighth last season but had a weakness against the pass. Ramsey, a seven-time Pro Bowler, fits perfectly into this role and brings 24 career interceptions and 108 passes defensed to the team.
The trade reunites Smith with former coach Arthur Smith, who is now the Falcons’ head coach. The tight end is expected to form a dynamic duo with Pat Freiermuth, providing a boost to Pittsburgh’s passing attack despite a thin wide-receiving corps.
Pittsburgh has been active in trades this offseason, gearing up for what could be Aaron Rodgers’ final year in the NFL. While they lost a defensive stalwart, Fitzpatrick brings four Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro selections to the team. The move reunites him with his original club, but he spent only 18 games there before being traded.
The Dolphins are now in conversations about acquiring a new tight end to fill the void left by Smith’s departure. With Ramsey gone, Miami will need younger players like Storm Duck and Kader Kohou to step up at corner. Despite this, the team made a bold move to add star power rather than relying on draft picks.
The trade has added excitement to an otherwise slow NFL offseason, with both teams making significant moves.
Source: https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-trading-three-time-all-pro-cb-jalen-ramsey-to-steelers