Breaking down the Jalen Ramsey, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jonnu Smith trade

A blockbuster NFL trade went down on Monday morning, as three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey was dealt from the Miami Dolphins to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Dolphins Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith was also part of the deal, and will now join up with his former head coach in Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

A trade of some kind involving Ramsey, 30, was expected this offseason, as the 2021 Super Bowl champion sat out of minicamp earlier this summer while seeking a trade away from south Florida, where he spent the last two full seasons.

What wasn't apparent in the lead-up to this news break was Pittsburgh's willingness to part ways with Fitzpatrick, 28, who will now return to the team that drafted him No. 11 overall in 2018.

Full trade details

• Steelers get: CB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith, 2027 7th-round pick
• Dolphins get: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 5th-round pick

All three players involved in this deal have proven they can play at a Pro Bowl level, and both teams and fanbases may feel they got better through this trade.

We'll start with Ramsey, who will team up with head coach Mike Tomlin, new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers and fellow CB Darius Slay Jr. in 2025.

Ramsey has had a high profile ever since his days at Florida State, and soon after became the No. 5 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was a key member of the 2017 Jaguars team that reached the AFC Championship game and pushed the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots to the brink.

He vaulted further into stardom after joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 and winning the Super Bowl two seasons later, cementing his legacy as not only a multi-time All-Pro, but a champion. Ramsey has always had an eclectic personality that many NFL defensive backs embody.

When he's focused and on, he's one of the best defensive backs of the past decade-plus in the NFL. We expect to see that version of Ramsey in Pittsburgh this fall.

Fitzpatrick has a similar reputation to Ramsey in that when he is on, he is one of most feared ballhawks in the NFL. One of the reasons the Steelers dealt their star safety, it seems, is his lack of production in recent seasons compared to the start of his career.

After being traded from Miami to Pittsburgh in 2019, Fitzpatrick recorded 17 interceptions in just 61 regular seasons games, including an NFL-best six picks in 2022.

But in the last two seasons, Minkah has just one total interception, and the Steelers ranked in the bottom half of the league in pass yards allowed per game. This could be a case of Pittsburgh brass wanting to cut ties with Fitzpatrick before he potentially regresses further.

When Fitzpatrick signed his four-year, $73.61 million contract in June 2022, he was the highest-paid safety in the NFL, and still ranks fourth in AAV ($18.247 million) entering 2025.

Fitzpatrick will feel he has a lot to prove in his return to Miami in 2025.

Jonnu Smith is an interesting kicker in this deal, with the 2024 Pro Bowler a late bloomer in his NFL career. Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the Dolphins and Steelers were exploring a trade involving Smith, but it never materialized on its own. Now, he's the third name in a trade that involves two other multi-time All-Pro selections.

Smith sought a new contract from Miami this offseason following what was by far his best pro year in 2024.

Last season, Smith's eighth in the NFL, the tight end logged a career-best 884 and 8 TD, emerging as Tua Tagovailoa's favorite target down the stretch as the Dolphins looked to claw their way into the playoffs.

Few coaches are as innovative on the offensive side of the ball as Miami head coach Mike McDaniel, who found a fit for Smith that helped him thrive. Now, the 29-year-old Florida International product will play under Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who coached him during his time with the Tennessee Titans (2019-20) and Atlanta Falcons (2023).

Smith joins fifth-year tight end Pat Freiermuth in the position group, and the two will likely fight it out over training camps for who gets more snaps once the 2025 season gets underway in September.