Pittsburgh acquired Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith and a 2027…
Pittsburgh acquired Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick from Miami for Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth. Ramsey immediately became a full-time defensive starter, while Smith’s Pittsburgh stay lasted only one season. Miami received 14 starts from Fitzpatrick before moving him again in 2026, leaving the still-unresolved 2027 pick swap as an important part of the final value.
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick a 2027 5th round pick and Minkah Fitzpatrick
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick Jalen Ramsey , Jonnu Smith and a 2027 7th round pick
Trade Analysis
Pittsburgh’s logic was aggressive but understandable. The Steelers moved on from Minkah Fitzpatrick, who had been a centerpiece of their defense since 2019, and received two accomplished veterans plus a late-round pick. Jalen Ramsey arrived as a three-time first-team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, giving Pittsburgh a versatile defensive back who could play outside, in the slot or move around the secondary. Jonnu Smith was coming off a Pro Bowl season in Miami and reunited with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, creating expectations that Pittsburgh had added two immediate starters in one transaction.
The first season produced mixed results. Ramsey started all 17 games and remained a major part of the Steelers’ defense, giving Pittsburgh durable value from the headline piece of its return. Smith never reproduced his 2024 Miami breakout. He caught 38 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in 2025, then Pittsburgh released him in March 2026. That reduced what initially looked like a two-player haul to a deal increasingly centered on Ramsey.
Miami’s return also became shorter-lived than expected. Fitzpatrick started 14 games in 2025 and finished with 74 tackles, six passes defensed, one interception, one sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In March 2026, Miami traded him to the Jets for a seventh-round pick. The Dolphins still hold the more favorable 2027 draft position from the original exchange: a fifth-rounder came from Pittsburgh while a seventh went the other way.
Through one season, Pittsburgh has the slight edge because Ramsey remains a starting-caliber piece while Fitzpatrick and Smith have already moved on. But the margin is modest, not overwhelming. The 2027 pick difference still matters, and Miami did receive useful 2025 play from Fitzpatrick before recouping another asset. This looks more like a narrow Steelers win than a decisive one.