Steelers Jalen Ramsey Trade Winners and Losers Analyzes Amid Major Shakeup originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Pittsburgh Steelers added two major pieces to their roster by agreeing to terms with the Miami Dolphins in a trade to bring All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Steel City. In exchange, the Steelers send mainstay safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to South Beach along with a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. Pittsburgh also gets a seventh-rounder in the deal.
For Miami, they finally get the monkey off their back that was Ramsey. He and the organization had agreed to mutual part ways and have been seeking a trade for a while, just a year after signing his three-year $72 million contract.
They found their dance partner in Pittsburgh, who ends a fabulous era with Fitzpatrick as the cornerstone of the secondary by strengthening the roster to better their chances in a competitive AFC North.
So who won the trade?
We dive into some winners and losers from both sides:
WINNER(s): Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith
Each player was enduring their own dispute with the Dolphins franchise this offseason. They now each breathe a sigh of relief having been granted a change of scenery.
Not only does Ramsey get out of Miami like he wanted, he also got a $1.5 million raise this season thanks to a contract restructure by the Steelers.
Smith was in a contract dispute that the team obviously did not want to settle with a new deal. He had been mentioned in trade talks – and frequently with Pittsburgh – for weeks. That idea now becomes a reality. He will reportedly also receive a one-year, $12 million contract extension to stay with the Steelers.
From a team aspect, both Ramsey and Smith can enjoy playing for a Steelers team that has a much better chance at being competitive than the Dolphins.
LOSER(s): Minkah Fitzpatrick and Mike McDaniel
The reasoning for Fitzpatrick’s involvement in this trade is odd.
For him specifically, he returns to the team that drafted him in 2018 … which is also the same team he requested a trade from a year later, landing him in Pittsburgh.
Fitzpatrick had turned into a fan favorite over his tenure with the Steelers. Over his six full seasons, he made four Pro Bowls and was selected for two First Team All-Pro teams. That era now comes to an unexpected end.
On the opposite side of the spectrum to the two above, Minkah also joins a discombobulated roster that isn’t expected to compete in 2025, placing their coach on the hot seat as a result.
Head coach Mike McDaniel will now be forced to work with a defense that gave up more than it returned in production. The Dolphins are also lacking cornerback depth, which will be a headache for the coaching staff to manage should there be an injury.
Also, Smith is coming off a career-best season as an important part of McDaniel’s offense. Having received no offensive piece back in the trade, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will have to find another auxiliary target to complement Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
WINNER: Storm Duck
No player will benefit most from this move more than Storm Duck.
The second-year cornerback should slide into an opportunity to start to head coach Mike McDaniel, which is a golden opportunity for the undrafted free agent to make a name for himself on the field consistently.
He made three starts in his rookie season last year, posting 35 total tackles and four passes defensed.
LOSER: The Rest of the AFC North
The Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals both have elite passing offenses and now face a daunting Steelers secondary featuring Ramsey, Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr.
Slay is another veteran with Super Bowl pedigree like Ramsey. While the defensive backfield took a hit, Pittsburgh’s man coverage with those three will be hard to go against.
This move is the latest in a string of acquisitions that strengthen the Steelers’ odds of competing in not just the division, but the AFC as a whole. Baltimore may still be the betting favorite to win the division, but some promising showings against the division last year with an objectively worse lineup makes this year’s Steelers team as dangerous as any.
WINNER: Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers gets another weapon in the pass game that should add a versatile wrinkle in Arthur Smith’s offense. Star receiver DK Metcalf is expected to still be the main target, but two dynamic pass-catching tight ends in Smith and Pat Freiermuth be very comforting for the four-time MVP quarterback.
With a rookie projected to be taking handoffs from Rodgers out of the backfield, it’s crucial that Pittsburgh has a dependable pass game. A veteran receiver like Robert Wood will help in this regard, as well, to bring along the youngsters Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson.
Most of all, this move is another commitment by the Steelers organization that they want to win now. That is all Rodgers could ask for in what is likely the final year of his illustrious career.
Related: Jalen Ramsey Trade Gives Steelers Best Corner Trio in NFL
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.