Surprising NFL Exchange: Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh, Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami
The Miami Dolphins have finalized a deal to trade three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In return, they receive three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a modification in the draft selection. As part of this exchange, subject to physical examinations, the Dolphins will send a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Steelers and receive a 2027 fifth-round pick from Pittsburgh. Ramsey will receive a $1.5 million raise this season, which will increase his compensation to $26.6 million in 2025. The Steelers will assume most of Ramsey’s contract for this season, while the Dolphins will pay $3 million. Smith will get a one-year contract extension worth $12 million. Ramsey, 30 years old, confirmed his move to Pittsburgh through his social media.Jalen Ramsey’s post on X: “Breaking my own news! #HereWeGo @steelers.”
Fitzpatrick, for his part, returns to Miami, where he began his career after being selected in the number 11 position of the 2018 draft. The Dolphins had traded him to the Steelers in 2019, after his dissatisfaction with his role in the team, after the then coach Brian Flores moved him from safety to nickelback. Ramsey, with 24 career interceptions, joins a group of cornerbacks already established at the Steelers, who signed Darius Slay Jr. in free agency and have Joey Porter Jr. Without Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, who signed a two-year extension this offseason, is the most veteran safety in Pittsburgh, although Ramsey, who has played cornerback during his nine years in the NFL, could transition to safety. The Steelers also signed safety Juan Thornhill in free agency. The Dolphins indicated in April that they were looking to trade Ramsey, whom the team had acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. Ramsey signed a restructured three-year, $55 million extension upon arriving in Miami and was selected for the Pro Bowl that season, despite missing seven games. He subsequently signed a three-year, $72.3 million extension shortly before the start of the 2024 season. He had 11 passes defended last season, but only recorded two interceptions, his lowest total since 2020. Fitzpatrick, 28, was productive after being acquired by the Steelers in 2019, achieving five interceptions in 14 games with his new team. He had multiple interceptions in each of the following three seasons, including six in 2022. However, he had a slump in 2023 and did not record any interceptions due to injuries. Finally, he broke the drought with an interception in the Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, ending a streak of 25 games without interceptions. Fitzpatrick has 20 career interceptions. Smith, 29, set franchise records for receptions (88) and receiving yards (884) by a tight end last season, earning him his first Pro Bowl selection. He led all Dolphins players in receptions in his first year with the team and finished behind Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and George Kittle in receiving yards by a tight end league-wide. The Steelers’ interest in Smith is due to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s long relationship with the tight end. Arthur Smith was a tight ends coach and offensive coordinator for Jonnu Smith in Tennessee, and then signed him during his time as the Falcons’ coach. By adding Ramsey and Smith, the Steelers continue to break their own precedents this offseason. Generally discreet in the trade market and in free agency, the trade for the Dolphins duo is the most recent in a series of high-profile moves, following the signing of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the trade of wide receiver DK Metcalf. The Steelers also sent receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys and signed Slay. Ramsey becomes the fourth captain of the Dolphins from last season to leave the team, joining Terron Armstead (retired), Calais Campbell, and David Long Jr. (released). Former Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, who was released by the team this offseason and then signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, criticized the team following the announcement of the trade.The acquisition of Fitzpatrick is an important step for a Dolphins team looking to replace its entire starting secondary from last season. Miami released cornerback Kendall Fuller after one season and allowed safeties Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer to leave in free agency. They signed safeties Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis, and cornerback Artie Burns, before selecting Dante Trader Jr. and Jason Marshall Jr. in the draft, but a clear starter had yet to emerge at any of the positions after OTAs and the team’s minicamp. Fitzpatrick should fill one of the starting safety positions, while the team explores the veteran free agent market at the cornerback position. By trading Smith, who was absent from Miami’s preseason practices in search of a new contract, the Dolphins are left without a primary pass-catching tight end. In the remaining tight end group are Julian Hill and Pharaoh Brown, and former undrafted free agents Tanner Conner, Hayden Rucci, and Jalin Conyers.
