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06/30 13:39 CDT Dolphins are trading CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith to the
Steelers for S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Dolphins are trading CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith to the Steelers for S
Minkah Fitzpatrick
By ALANIS THAMES
AP Sports Writer
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.
"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.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/nfl
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