A mega-trade just took place on the final day of June.
The Dolphins are sending cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Monday. The teams later announced the trade.
Miami previously paid Ramsey $4 million this offseason and tacked on another $3 million to facilitate the trade, while Pittsburgh is giving Ramsey a $1.5 million raise and covering the rest of his $26.6 million salary this season, per Rapoport and Pelissero.
Rapoport and Pelissero had reported on April 15 that Miami and Ramsey mutually agreed to explore trade options. The draft came and went, as did organized team activities and mandatory minicamp -- which Ramsey didn't attend -- without a move.
One has now transpired, and it's a doozy of a transaction with both teams involved swinging for the fences.
Ramsey joins a Pittsburgh defense that was stout overall last season, ranking eighth in scoring, but had a glaring weakness against the pass as a bottom-10 unit in yards allowed through the air. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Ramsey certainly fits the bill as the Steelers look to rectify that.
He has 24 career interceptions and 108 passes defensed, with 534 tackles over nine seasons to supplement his shutdown ways. He'll turn 31 during the upcoming season and may have lost half a step as most corners do at this point in their careers, but he remains an instinctual defender capable of elevating a secondary that also includes Darius Slay, Joey Porter Jr., Beanie Bishop Jr., DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill.
Smith, who's name had also swirled in the rumored trade winds of the offseason, reunites again with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and provides a dynamic one-two punch at tight end alongside Pat Freiermuth.
It's all a part of Pittsburgh gearing up for what could be Aaron Rodgers' final year in the NFL and only run at a Super Bowl with the team.
The move did come at a cost, though, as the Steelers had to part with a defensive stalwart to make it happen.
Fitzpatrick has made four Pro Bowls and twice been named a first-team All-Pro during his time in Pittsburgh, racking up 516 tackles, 18 interceptions and three touchdowns with the team. The move reunites him with the club that drafted him, though he spent only 18 games there before a trade during his second season sent him to the Steel City.
Now he's back in South Beach, matured and as good as ever, capable of boosting a defense that already ranked 10th in scoring last season.
Miami will need names such as Storm Duck, Kader Kohou, Cam Smith, Artie Burns, Kendall Sheffield and fifth-round rookie Jason Marshall Jr. to step up at corner, but it moved on from Ramsey while returning legitimate star power rather than solely the toss-ups that draft picks can be.
The Dolphins might not be done just yet, either. With Smith's departure leaving a a void at tight end, Miami is now in conversations with multiple teams about acquiring someone to add to a position room that features Pharaoh Brown, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner, per Pelissero.
It's currently supposed to be the NFL's sleepy season, but Miami and Pittsburgh are wide awake and making moves.
