The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded for All-Pro Defensive back Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith in a deal that will send Minkah Fitzpatrick back to the Miami Dolphins.
Jalen Ramsey Traded to Steelers in a Massive Deal With Dolphins
A rare players-for-players trade was executed Monday morning when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins agreed to exchange defensive backs while also involving a tight end. Ramsey will head to the Steelers while Miami will send Smith, and in return, Fitzpatrick will head back to the Dolphins, the team that originally drafted him back in 2018.
All in all:
Steelers get:
🏈Jalen Ramsey
🏈Jonnu SmithDolphins get:
🏈Minkah Fitzpatrick
🏈Late-round pick pic.twitter.com/ASBUsw2wu3— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 30, 2025
It was no secret that Ramsey was going to be on the move this offseason, as he and the Dolphins publicly admitted that it was time for both parties to move on. While the Steelers had been rumored to be a team interested in Ramsey, it was thought by the NFL media world that Ramsey would be sent elsewhere. It was reported that Ramsey’s preference was to be on the West Coast as he spent five years with the Los Angeles Rams, so many thought that was where Ramsey was headed. However, the Steelers swoop in to snag Ramsey, which will add to an already talented Steelers secondary.
The Steelers also added Darius Slay this offseason, and they also have the talented Joey Porter Jr., who will be entering his third season and has shown promise. Even though they will be without Fitzpatrick, the Steelers’ secondary still projects out favorably to the rest of the league. In a division that features teams like the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, you can never have enough firepower in the secondary to combat those offenses.
Smith will be a quality piece to the Steelers offense as he is familiar with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who once coached him while they were in Atlanta and Tennessee. Last season with the Dolphins, Smith caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. With Aaron Rodgers now in the fold it will be essential for Smith to have the necessary tools to help Rodgers thrive in his system.
Fitzpatrick Returns Back To Miami
Fitzpatrick, a three-time All-Pro, will once again return to the franchise that originally drafted him and traded him to Pittsburgh. At the time of the trade, Fitzpatrick was at a heavy price, traded for a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick. Frustration had grown with Fitzpatrick during that time with a Dolphins organization that wasn’t in contention, which prompted the All-Pro safety to ask for a trade from the team.
The second go around for Fitzpatrick will look a lot different in Miami. At the time of his trade, the head coach was Brian Flores, who is currently the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. Now, his coach will be Mike McDaniel, who is the architect of a high-flying offense. Though Fitzpatrick will immediately help in Miami, the pressure is on for the team as a whole. After not making the playoffs last season, it will be crucial for the Dolphins to have a great season. If not, Fitzpatrick could find himself in the same turmoil he wanted to get away from when he was first sent to Pittsburgh.
Main Image: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
