Former Miami Dolphins cornerback, Jalen Ramsey in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills. January 7, 2024.
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Former Miami Dolphins cornerback, Jalen Ramsey in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills. January 7, 2024.
The Miami Dolphins finally finalized what was the arguably the biggest imminent trade in the NFL at this point in the summer offseason break – the Jalen Ramsey trade.
However, they received significantly more in return than many imagined they would, acquiring All-Pro safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick, as part of a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, that also included tight end, Jonnu Smith, and draft compensation.
Full terms of Monday’s Steelers-Dolphins blockbuster:
Steelers get:
🏈CB Jalen Ramsey
🏈TE Jonnu Smith
🏈2027 7th-round pick
Dolphins get:
🏈S Minkah Fitzpatrick
🏈2027 5th-round pick https://t.co/OvqRLfb2dr
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 30, 2025
Both Teams Had Reasons For Moving Off Ramsey, Fitzpatrick
In fact, to some this trade almost seemed too good to be true – getting Fitzpatrick and a fifth rounder for an ageing Ramsey, Smith and a seventh. However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler a little insight as to why the Steelers were willing to part with easily one of their best players over the few years.
Minkah Fitzpatrick still a top-10 safety, but evaluators around league have seen some decline, and trade whispers regarding his future first surfaced in March.
They’ve seen decline in Ramsey, too, but his versatility becomes valuable — he can play on outside, nickel or safety
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 30, 2025
And the same applies to Miami with Ramsey, who the team were not – according to Joe Schad – always too pleased with for reasons outside of simply him not quite being the All-Pro caliber talent he once was.
Serious deletion in talent for Miami
Chris Grier wants players who want to be here
Any GM would
On paper, doesn’t seem like great trade
But the rationale for deals extends beyond paper
Ramsey, for example, is very talented but can be emotional, moody, mercurial https://t.co/Jb24a8ejnq
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) June 30, 2025
An ’emotional’ and ‘moody’ character is hardly the blueprint for a leader of a team that already has some culture and discipline related issues in the locker room over the course of head coach, Mike McDaniel’s tenure.
So it is not shocking that, ultimately, that Ramsey was sent away to Pittsburgh, where head coach, Mike Tomlin, has always managed to deal well with more colorful personalities.
How Will Minkah Fitzpatrick Fare Returning To Miami?
As Fowler notes, Fitzpatrick is not the powerhouse, gold-standard of safety that he once was in Pittsburgh, after shining – ironically – almost immediately after being traded away from the Dolphins, where he was being mis-utilized by former head coach, Brian Flores.
Although corner is the main, talked about issue on in the secondary, safety was still an area of weakness for the team heading into next season, prior to Monday’s trade.
Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis were set to be the starting safeties prior the Fitzpatrick trade, with very little behind them in terms of proven ability and talent.
Having a free safety like Fitzpatrick will help alleviate the pressure off of what will be one of the more untested cornerback groups in the NFL – particularly on deep balls. But now the question will really turn to whether the Dolphins can at least be decent at CB heading into the 2025 season.