Who Gained Huge Steelers-Dolphins Commerce? Grading Ramsey, Smith for Fitzpatrick Swap

Once you commerce for Aaron Rodgers, you recognize you’ve gotten a restricted window.

And the Pittsburgh Steelers proceed to aggressively work to maximise that window, buying and selling with the Miami Dolphins so as to add nook Jalen Ramsey and tight finish Jonnu Smith. Pittsburgh despatched security Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round decide to Miami, whereas the Steelers can even get a 2027 seventh-round decide again from the Dolphins.

Let’s grade the commerce for each groups.

Steelers

The Steelers have been lively on the commerce entrance this offseason, buying extensive receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks and sending extensive receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys.

Ramsey, 30, is a seven-time Professional Bowl nook who’s among the many league’s highest-paid defensive backs. To get him, the Steelers gave up Fitzpatrick, 28, himself a five-time Professional Bowl choice, now returning to the workforce that drafted him.

Smith, 29, is coming off a profession yr and Professional Bowl season, catching 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. He can be reunited with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who coached him with the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.

It’s been a busy offseason of transferring chips to the middle of the desk for Pittsburgh, attempting to make a postseason splash with Rodgers, 42, who mentioned he’s probably getting into his ultimate NFL season this previous week. Head coach Mike Tomlin has by no means had a dropping season, however his groups have additionally misplaced their final 5 playoff video games and haven’t gained one for the reason that 2017 season.

Ramsey’s addition follows the Baltimore Ravens’ signing of veteran nook and two-time Professional Bowler Jaire Alexander after he was minimize by the Inexperienced Bay Packers. The AFC North seems to be to be one of many league’s greatest and most intently contested divisions in 2025, with the Ravens and Steelers attempting to carry off the Cincinnati Bengals and all three trying like playoff groups.

Jonnu Smith had a profession yr in his first and solely season with the Dolphins. Now, he heads to Pittsburgh as Aaron Rodgeers will get one other weapon. (Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photos)

Grade: A-minus.

Dolphins

Miami is swapping one extremely adorned and well-paid defensive again for one more.

Fitzpatrick, two years youthful than Ramsey, made the Professional Bowl 4 occasions in his 5 seasons in Pittsburgh and can be an improve at security, although there can be a dropoff at nook. Will Fitzpatrick be the ballhawk who led the NFL with six interceptions in 2022, or the man who totaled one during the last two years?

It’s doable the Dolphins commerce to amass one other tight finish to offset the lack of Smith, with NFL Media reporting that they are in conversations with a number of groups to exchange their Professional Bowler.

Grade: B

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade overlaying the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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