Dolphins are trading CB Jalen
Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith to the Steelers for S Minkah Fitzpatrick
[July 01, 2025]
By ALANIS THAMES
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are sending All-Pro
cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027
seventh-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for
All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Ramsey announced the trade Monday in a post on his X account. Both
his representation and the Dolphins, where he spent the past two
seasons, had mutually agreed earlier this year to part ways.
Neither Ramsey nor the Dolphins gave any insight into what went
wrong. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said in April that
Ramsey did not ask for a trade or more money, but after weeks of
conversations with Ramsey’s representation, both sides agreed that
it would be best to move on.
Fitzpatrick returns to the team that drafted him 11th overall in
2018. He had been displeased with his role in Miami and requested a
trade before being sent to the Steelers in 2019.
The terms have been agreed upon and are pending physicals.
The swap of Ramsey and Fitzpatrick, both three-time All-Pros, marks
the third time since at least 2002 that players who had previously
been All-Pros were traded for each other, according to Sportradar.
The others were star receiver DeAndre Hopkins (three All-Pros) for
running back David Johnson (1) in 2020, and tight end Jimmy Graham
(1) for center Max Unger (1) in 2015.

Smith had one of the best years of his career in his lone season in
Miami after signing a two-year deal as a free agent ahead of the
2024 season. The veteran tight end hoped that his career year might
lead to a new contract with the Dolphins, with whom he preferred to
stay. He had been away from the team during its offseason program as
he sought a new contract.
Instead, he's re-joining Arthur Smith, currently the offensive
coordinator in Pittsburgh, whom he was with in Tennessee and
Atlanta.
Smith will get a one-year contract extension worth as much as $12
million for 2026, agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed.
In the aftermath of the trade, former Dolphins running back Raheem
Mostert responded to the news with apparent criticism of his former
team. Mostert was cut in February by Miami after his least
productive season with the team in 2024, one year after making the
Pro Bowl with the Dolphins.
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AFC free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39), of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
runs back an interception for a touchdown during the flag football
event at the NFL Pro Bowl Games on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Orlando,
Fla. (Doug Benc/AP Images for NFL, file)

“Hot take: Be a Pro-bowler on the Dolphins, get
treated like (expletive),” Mostert wrote on X in response to the
trades. “Happy for my guys though! GO BALL OUT!!”
It's the latest in a series of retooling moves the Steelers have
made this offseason in hopes that 2025 won't end similarly as their
past few seasons. Pittsburgh has reached the playoffs four times in
the last five seasons, only to be quickly eliminated in lopsided
fashion each time.
Since March, the Steelers have acquired two-time Pro Bowl wide
receiver DK Metcalf from Seattle, signed four-time NFL MVP Aaron
Rodgers and now they've added two more experienced veterans in
Ramsey and Smith.
Trading Fitzpatrick, who emerged as one of the NFL's premier
safeties in his six seasons in Pittsburgh, likely could free up
money for the Steelers to re-sign star linebacker TJ Watt, who is in
the last year of his deal and skipped the offseason program as he
seeks a new contract.
For the Dolphins, losing Smith is a huge blow to their offense,
which heavily relied on the tight end in the passing game as teams
limited big plays from receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Smith's 88 receptions and 884 receiving yards last season were the
most by a tight end in franchise history.
The Dolphins did address a need at safety after starter Jevon
Holland signed with the New York Giants in March, but they still
will likely be on the hunt for a replacement for Ramsey to add a
veteran to their mostly young cornerback group.
___
AP Sports Writers Will Graves in Pittsburgh and Josh Dubow in San
Francisco contributed to this report.
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