So much for a slow summer in the NFL.
With all teams on break until training camps open in mid-to-late July, this stretch would seem like a natural window for a break in action for a league that seemingly never rests. Yet on Monday, two teams brokered an ultra-rare swap of star players.
The headline of the deal: The Miami Dolphins traded cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Also headed to Pittsburgh are tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick, while Miami also receives a 2027 seventh-round draft pick.
Jalen Ramsey trade details: Dolphins deal star CB to Steelers in blockbuster move
The shake-up brings an end to the uncertainty that had prevailed for months since the Dolphins first acknowledged they were looking to part with Ramsey, the seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback. And for Pittsburgh, it served as the latest marquee addition – and departure with the exit of Fitzpatrick, a five-time Pro Bowl selection – for a franchise reshaped by the arrivals of Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf.
How did each team fare in the deal? Here are our trade grades:
Steelers trade grade: B
When news of the Ramsey trade first broke, it seemed to be a fitting move for an organization clearly embracing a truncated timeline for competing with Rodgers at the helm. The surprising return, however, muddled the outlook a bit.
Cornerback play tends to be volatile year to year, but there’s little question that Ramsey raises both the floor and ceiling for Pittsburgh at this vital position group. The Steelers in March signed reliable veteran Darius Slay to fill the void opposite Joey Porter Jr., seemingly settling one of the more pressing deficiencies of the defense. But trusting a 34-year-old to run with the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins within the division was always going to be a stretch.
With Ramsey on board, the Steelers now size up as one of the most imposing matchups for opposing wide receivers. Ramsey can handle the lion’s share of reps in base looks alongside Porter, and his experience working inside should pay off massively in allowing him to kick inside to get all three standout corners on the field in nickel packages. That sort of rotation can keep the team fresh down the stretch, with both of its matchups against the rival Baltimore Ravens and a trip to face the Detroit Lions all coming in the final six weeks.
Still, given the loss of Fitzpatrick, does this trade truly move the needle much in reshaping the secondary for a defense that ranked 25th in passing yards allowed (228 per game)? The Steelers will try to scrape by on the back end with Juan Thornhill seemingly stepping in alongside Deshon Elliott, but there’s little question that the unit will miss Fitzpatrick’s playmaking range, though he has recorded just one interception in the last two years combined. Of course, the outlook shifts considerably if Pittsburgh utilizes Ramsey in this role, but it’d be yet another adjustment for all involved.
Adding Smith might seem like a natural move, as the tight end will be reunited with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who first helped the pass catcher flourish with the Tennessee Titans and later helped him bounce back with the Atlanta Falcons. But even with an abundance of multiple tight end sets, it’s still unclear exactly how he’ll be incorporated alongside established starter Pat Freiermuth.
‘It would be complicated having (Smith) and Pat. They’re kind of the same type of tight end,” Steelers tight end Connor Heyward said earlier in June, according to PennLive, when discussing the rumors of a potential Smith trade. ‘They both got to have 100 balls a year thrown their way.’
Maybe the doubling down in Pittsburgh isn’t so much a bet on Rodgers as it is on Mike Tomlin finding a way to bring all these disparate pieces together. Regardless, it’s a lot of upheaval – even if it largely appears for the better – for the coach to navigate.
Dolphins trade grade: B-
With the Dolphins in April broadcasting their intention to move on from Ramsey, it seemed as though the organization could only expect a modest return. Instead, it addressed its biggest hole by bringing on one of the top players at his position.
Fitzpatrick returns to the franchise nearly six years after it dealt him amid his clash with then-coach Brian Flores regarding his utilization. This time around, there shouldn’t be any issues regarding his role. Miami was preparing to enter the season with perhaps the most unstable safety tandem in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis. Fitzpatrick isn’t at his peak as he prepares to enter a season in which he’ll turn 29 in November, but with Ramsey’s departure essentially looking inevitable, he’s probably the most meaningful addition who could have been acquired at this point in the calendar.
Yet it’s difficult to feel good about the state of Miami’s secondary overall given the outlook after the trade. With Ramsey gone, the Dolphins will depend on the likes of 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, 2024 undrafted free agent Storm Duck and fifth-round rookie Jason Marshall Jr. on the outside, with nickel Kader Kohou providing the lone bit of stability. Fitzpatrick can only do so much to compensate for a group that doesn’t seem up to the task of running with the AFC’s best.
Sending off Smith also further ups the challenge for an aerial attack that lacks much depth in its pass-catching options beyond Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Julian Hill could see a sizable leap in action as a potential replacement at starter, but the move likely necessitates an addition sometime before the season (NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the team is scouring the trade market).
A fine return for Miami on the whole, but the prevailing issue of the top-heavy roster remains as pervasive as ever.