In a post on his X account, cornerback Jalen Ramsey announced the Miami Dolphins agreed to trade him to Pittsburgh. According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins will send Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Steelers for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
With that in mind, let’s grade each team in the blockbuster deal:
Steelers grade: A
Landing Ramsey and Smith continues the Steelers’ aggressive offseason. They’ve already signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers and cornerback Darius Slay Jr. to one-year deals in free agency and acquired wide receiver DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
It’s unclear if Ramsey, 30, will keep playing at corner or move to safety. Along with Slay, the Steelers have cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who had one interception and seven passes defensed in 16 regular-season games in his second season in 2024.
Regardless, Ramsey should make Pittsburgh’s stingy defense — which allowed the league’s eighth-fewest points (20.4) last season — even better. In nine seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams and Dolphins, he has made seven Pro Bowls, earned three first-team All-Pro nods and won a Super Bowl.
In 17 games with the Dolphins last season, he had two interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
Smith, 29, should emerge as a reliable target for Rodgers. He made his first Pro Bowl last season after notching career highs in receptions (88), receiving yards (884) and touchdown catches (eight) in 17 games with the Dolphins.
Smith played for Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for four seasons with the Tennessee Titans and one with the Atlanta Falcons, so he should have a grip on the coach’s system.
Dolphins grade: C+
Finding a team that would make room for Ramsey’s contract (three years, $72.3M) proved difficult for the Dolphins throughout the offseason. Per Rapoport and Pelissero, the Steelers adjusted the defensive back’s contract to include a $1.5M raise, making his 2025 salary $26.6M.
Still, it’s easy to argue the Dolphins should’ve acquired more for a player of Ramsey’s caliber. A fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft may not offer Miami another impact player.
Fitzpatrick, 28, is returning to the place where his career started. The Dolphins took him with pick No. 11 in the 2018 draft. But will the reunion work out?
Fitzpatrick earned three first-team All-Pro nods in his six seasons with the Steelers, but his numbers have declined over the past two seasons. During this span, he has had just one interception, compared to 17 in his first four seasons with Pittsburgh.
Pelissero tweeted the Dolphins are exploring trades for TEs after sending Smith to Pittsburgh. Their potential targets could be downgrades.
Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts has been considered a potential option for TE-needy teams this offseason. In 17 games last season, he had 47 receptions for 602 yards and four TD catches.
