Steelers Go All In While Dolphins Retool In A Shocking Three-Player Deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers continued its active offseason with yet another move to bolster their roster in pursuit of the franchise’s seventh Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh traded its starting free safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and a 2027 fifth-round selection to the Miami Dolphins for safety Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick. The deal was confirmed by both teams Monday morning, with Ramsey himself confirming his side of the transaction through his X account.

It came as no surprise that Ramsey was dealt following weeks of trade rumors surrounding the 10-year veteran after both sides made it known in April that they would explore trade options. Ramsey played every regular-season game this past season and posted 60 tackles, six tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions as a member of the Dolphins.

The shock was the additional player Miami attached to the Ramsey deal to secure a starting-caliber safety in return. Tight end Jonnu Smith had career-highs in catches (88), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (8) in a year where he served as Miami’s second reliable pass-catcher behind Tyreek Hill.

It’s reported that Miami is now shopping around for a starting tight end replacement to fill Smith’s shoes following his exodus from town. In the meantime, Miami can reunite with a player that general manager Chris Grier previously drafted in former Miami Dolphins’ defender Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick spent his first year and a half with the Dolphins as its 2018 first-round selection before being dealt to the Steelers midseason in 2019. Since then, he’s racked up 18 career interceptions, three First-Team All-Pro selections, and Pro Bowl berths.

The last two seasons from Minkah haven’t been as stellar from a takeaway perspective. He’s collected just one interception during that span and surrendered a career-high 540 passing yards on 41 catches last season, including four allowed receiving touchdowns.

Minkah will be expected to be the leader of a revised Dolphins’ secondary that lost Jevon Holland in free agency and is projected to start Fitzpatrick and longtime Jets backup safety Ashton Davis as its backline defenders.

For the Steelers, the move signals an all-in approach to a Super Bowl this upcoming season centered around veterans such as Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, D.K. Metcalf, and Jonnu Smith. All four are either in their primes or on the outside looking in, with an expected upcoming season of quality football left in them.

Smith and Metcalf are physical pass catchers that can line up in the slot or on the outside to create matchup nightmares against bigger and smaller defenders. Rodgers will also have the likes of 33-year-old wideout Robert Woods at his disposal alongside two more tight end options in Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.