The Pittsburgh Steelers made one of the biggest trades in the history of the franchise on Monday, sending All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and draft pick compensation to the Miami Dolphins for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith.
The move came out of nowhere. Though the Steelers had been mentioned in talks regarding Ramsey and Smith, the idea of trading Fitzpatrick had not been mentioned at all this offseason.
So what to make of Omar Khan once again pulling off a stunner?
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith (9) runs a route against the Houston Texans in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec 15, 2024 in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
This one is easy. The Steelers added an All-Pro cornerback, who is expensive and slightly past his prime. They subtracted an All-Pro safety, who is expensive and slightly past his prime.
They also added a Pro Bowl tight end.
There's no argument to made that the Steelers did anything other than improve the talent level of their roster. Ramsey may not be he once was, but he is at least every bit the player Fitzpatrick has been.
Ramsey had two interceptions and 11 passes defended last year , the first season he wasn't a Pro Bowler since 2016. Fitzpatrick had one pick and four PBUs. They play different positions, so it's not apples to apples, but it's at worst a wash, and probably a slight win for the Steelers.
Smith adds another dimension to the team's tight end room, giving Arthur Smith the ability to line up to two tight ends that are bona fide receiving threats, with Jonnu Smith next to Pat Freiermuth .
Smith had 884 yards and eight touchdowns with the Dolphins last season playing in an offense that also had Tyreek Hill , Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane demanding targets. He probably won't replicate that production as a 1A/B with Freiermuth in a running offense here, but the Steelers now have the versatility to run 12 personnel, with two tight ends on the field, as a base offense if they want to.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 8, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Ramsey is not as good as he once was. Fitzpatrick is not as good as he once was. The difference between the players is that it's a lot easier for a safety to still be dominant late in their career.
Troy Polamalu was a Pro Bowler at 32. Ed Reed was an All-Pro at 33 and a Pro Bowler at 34. Rod Woodson was an All-Pro as a safety at 37. His career arc might be the Steelers' blueprint for how to use Ramsey, but the fact that so many safeties have had so much success so late in their careers means that Miami has the biggest piece of upside in the trade in Fitzpatrick.
The 28-year-old has not shown a physical decline. He hasn't been repeatedly or significantly injured. His results simply have not been up to the same level as they were before.
While the Steelers got the greater haul of talent in the exchange, the Dolphins also got the one player most likely to be an All-Pro going forward, and if and Miami head coach Mike McDaniel — not exactly known for his defensive prowess — is able to unlock Fitzpatrick after two seasons of struggles in the Steel City, there will be some egg on the face of Khan and Mike Tomlin, even if they get the expected amount of production out of Ramsey and Smith.
Jalen Ramsey
The Steelers already had two starting outside cornerbacks in Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay . Porter is a former No. 32 overall draft pick, who the team sees as a cornerstone of its future secondary, and does not have the body type to play anywhere else. Slay is 34 years old and has never routinely played slot cornerback or safety.
So where will Ramsey fit in?
Slay is only here on a one-year deal, so this is only a problem for 2025, after which Ramsey could go back to playing outside cornerback to pair with Porter.
In the meantime, he could play in the slot, where he has most experience of the three, or perhaps he'll follow Woodson's career and make a late move to free safety. He's played just 137 career snaps there per PFF and eight over the last three seasons, but it remains plausible.
It is a good problem to have, but the fact that there isn't an obvious place to slot Ramsey into the starting lineup means that this trade will have a caveat. If the Steelers can't figure out how to get all three corners onto the field at the same time, its impact will be minimized in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Juan Thornhill at minicamp on June 10, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Ramsey may play free safety. He may not. Slay might, but that seems less likely. Otherwise, the next safety on the Steelers' depth chart is Juan Thornhill.
Thornhill is a big step down from Fitzpatrick, but he is not a total zero as a starter. In fact, he has been at least a 50% starter in each of his seven NFL seasons, and twice for a Super Bowl champion when he was with the Kansas City Chiefs .
The problem with Thornhill has been about his availability more than his ability. He's missed six games in each of the last two seasons with a variety of injuries, and he will turn 30 this season, so it's hard to project that turn suddenly reversing.
But even if Thornhill can stay healthy, if he's the answer at free safety, it brings into question how much of an upgrade this trade will be able to provide in the secondary.
If you take the Steelers defense of last week, and swap as starters Beanie Bishop and Fitzpatrick for Ramsey and Thornhill, how much better is that? Thornill is more accomplished than Bishop. But Ramsey will be playing out of his primary position. It's not a clear upgrade.
There's two months until the next game, so there's plenty of time to address free safety in another way, whether that's Ramsey making a position switch or another outside acquisition, but what happens at free safety will go a long way to determining this trade's success.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens makes a catch against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 11, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers need a second outside wide receiver. They have ever since they traded George Pickens . Calvin Austin III is probably always going to be a player that will operate most effectively out of the slot and Roman Wilson is a completely unproven commodity that also may end up being slot-limited.
Having Jonnu Smith won't change that. Though he represents a large upgrade to the Steelers' overall collection of pass-catchers, it's not as if he's going play receiver.
The Steelers will probably play a lot more two-tight end sets, but that doesn't delete their need for a second outside receiver, and in many ways, it exacerbates is. In a traditional 12 personnel setup, both wide receivers are outside receivers, and there is no slot.
But needing a second wide receiver is one thing. Finding one is another. The market is sparse, especially at this time of the year. Smith at least gives the Steelers an additional pass catcher, and replaces Donald Parham , who was lost for the season to an Achilles injury.
It's a big upgrade at tight end, and that will help the overall picture in the passing offense, but this won't solve the receiver problem.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Five Takeaways from Blockbuster Trade: Steelers Get Better, Big Secondary Questions Remain
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