On Monday morning, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins completed a significant summer trade shaking up the NFL landscape. The Dolphins sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh along with tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick, receiving safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in return. This transaction marked one of the rare blockbuster trades during the offseason, reflecting strategic moves by both franchises.
The Dolphins followed up quickly on Tuesday morning by acquiring tight end Darren Waller from the New York Giants to fill the void left by Smith. Miami gave up a 2026 sixth-round pick and a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder to bring Waller back from his brief retirement, aiming to bolster their offensive weapons. This flurry of trades signals a substantial reshuffling in the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/afc/”>AFC.
Background on Jalen Ramsey’s Trade Situation and Financial Implications
Jalen Ramsey had been a known trade candidate for some time, with both the player and Miami indicating before the NFL Draft that their future with the team was likely over. Although initially linked to the Los Angeles Rams, where he won a Super Bowl in 2022, salary concerns impeded that reunion. Los Angeles sought significant salary contributions from Miami for Ramsey in 2025, which complicated negotiations.
Ultimately, the Steelers emerged as the leading contender to acquire Ramsey despite ongoing salary disputes. Miami agreed to pay $3 million of Ramsey’s remaining salary to facilitate the trade, supplementing the $4 million roster bonus it had already paid early in the league year. This arrangement leaves the Steelers responsible for $19.6 million of Ramsey’s 2025 salary, which includes a $1.5 million raise negotiated as part of the deal.
Jonnu Smith Returns to Steelers Under Familiar Coaching Leadership
For Jonnu Smith, the trade represents a reunion with Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who has long admired the veteran tight end dating back to their time together with the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. Smith agreed to a one-year, $12 million extension with the Steelers, extending his contract to two years and adding an experienced target for newly signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Smith had a strong season with Miami in 2024 but had generally played as a secondary tight end throughout his career. The move to Pittsburgh positions him to contribute in an offense looking for additional weapons alongside receivers D.K. Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth, and Calvin Austin III.
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Return to Miami Solidifies Struggling Defense
This trade marks a homecoming for Minkah Fitzpatrick, who began his NFL career in Miami before moving to the Steelers in 2019. Since then, Fitzpatrick has been a consistent star on Pittsburgh’s defense, noted for his tackling and coverage skills. Now with the Dolphins, Fitzpatrick aims to strengthen a defensive unit that struggled in recent seasons.
Although trading away Smith created a gap at tight end for Miami, the subsequent acquisition of Darren Waller addresses that concern. Waller comes off an injury-marred tenure with the Giants and a brief retirement last summer but offers a high ceiling as a dynamic offensive player, potentially revitalizing Miami’s passing game.
Dolphins Gain Defensive Upgrade and Financial Flexibility
From Miami’s perspective, obtaining Fitzpatrick is a major win. Over the past three seasons, he has made 256 tackles, recorded seven interceptions, and earned strong grades from Pro Football Focus, highlighting his value as one of the league’s premier safeties. Crucially, Fitzpatrick is two years younger than Ramsey and carries a significantly lower cap hit, improving the Dolphins’ salary situation by roughly $8 million.
Trading Ramsey, who won’t remain on their payroll after this season, removes a costly contract from the books. While the cornerback position loses a top player, the Dolphins have promising young replacements such as second-year cornerback Cam Smith and rookie Storm Duck, who showed promise in 2024. Fitzpatrick’s addition, meanwhile, addresses a glaring need at safety, upgrading a previously weak position group.
Miami’s Tight End Strategy and Acquisition of Darren Waller
Switching Jonnu Smith for Minkah Fitzpatrick aligns with Miami’s strategic priorities. Though Smith performed well in 2024, he largely served as a secondary tight end rather than a primary weapon, and the team showed no intention of extending his contract long term. Rather than waiting for Smith to enter free agency and possibly netting a compensatory draft pick, the Dolphins opted for an immediate upgrade in defensive capability.
The subsequent trade for Darren Waller adds another experienced tight end with a proven track record, despite his struggles with injuries and the Giants’ inconsistent offense. Waller, previously a standout with the Raiders, now has the opportunity to regain his form in an offense that could better suit his talents. Miami’s approach reflects a balanced effort to improve both defense and offense simultaneously.
Assessing the Trade’s Impact and Potential Risks for Miami
This sequence of moves represents astute roster management by Miami. However, questions remain about the team’s long-term vision. The squad appears to be in a partial reset mode while retaining several aging, high-priced veterans. Fitzpatrick’s production dipped in 2024 relative to his previous seasons, raising concerns about whether he can rebound to his prior level of performance. If he fails to do so, the trade might lose value in retrospect.
Nonetheless, shedding Ramsey’s expensive contract was a stated priority for the Dolphins, and securing a top safety in return offers a relatively low-risk path to immediate improvement on defense.
Steelers’ Perspective on Acquiring Ramsey and Smith—A Controversial Choice
The Steelers’ decision to bring in Ramsey and Smith has generated significant debate. While the move adds a veteran cornerback and a familiar tight end, the trade raises questions about whether Pittsburgh truly improved their roster. Fitzpatrick has been regarded as the superior defensive player compared to Ramsey in recent years, and Smith’s fit within the Steelers’ offense is unclear given its scheme.
The Steelers had been pursuing Jonnu Smith for some time, especially after trading star wide receiver George Pickens to Dallas. Adding Smith complements their passing game, which includes stars like D.K. Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth. Yet, Arthur Smith’s offense emphasizes a slow, run-heavy approach that contrasts with the system where Jonnu Smith thrived in Miami—a fast-paced, open offense. This discrepancy creates uncertainty around Smith’s impact in Pittsburgh.
Depth Chart Considerations and Defensive Implications for Pittsburgh
The Steelers’ tight end group is now crowded, with Freiermuth and blocking specialist Darnell Washington remaining key parts of the offense. Smith’s presence will allow the team to use multiple tight end personnel packages, but questions linger whether he is the right piece to complete the lineup.
Regarding the defensive backfield, Ramsey and Fitzpatrick’s recent performances have been very similar statistically, with comparable Pro Football Focus grades and production in tackles and interceptions. However, Fitzpatrick is younger, less expensive, and a locker room leader, making this trade appear puzzling from Pittsburgh’s perspective.
The trade slightly strengthens the Steelers’ starting secondary by boosting a positionally critical cornerback spot, but it comes at the expense of depth at safety. Juan Thornhill and DeShon Elliott are set to handle safety duties, but depth beyond them remains thin with backups like Miles Killebrew and Quindell Johnson lacking experience. Meanwhile, cornerbacks Beanie Bishop Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. provide decent bench depth but do not fully offset the loss of Fitzpatrick.
Evaluating the Strategic Intent Behind Pittsburgh’s Moves
The narrative suggests the Steelers might be focusing on maximizing Aaron Rodgers’ one-year tenure by upgrading the offense and secondary, yet even this rationale falters under scrutiny given the abundant alternative ways to improve the team without sacrificing a key defensive player.
Still, the Steelers did acquire an offensive weapon in Jonnu Smith and a new veteran presence at cornerback in Ramsey, which avoids weakening their roster entirely. This trade carries risk but could pay dividends if both players perform well in Pittsburgh’s systems.
Giants Turn Darren Waller’s Return from Retirement into Valuable Draft Capital
Though the conditions attached to the seventh-round draft pick coming back to New York remain unclear, the transaction involving Darren Waller represents a win for the Giants. By trading a player who was on the retired list and no longer contributing, New York converted Waller’s acquisition into tangible future assets. This maneuver enhances the Giants’ draft flexibility as they continue to rebuild.