The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached an agreement to acquire cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins. In exchange, the Dolphins will receive safety Minkah Fitzpatrick along with a swap of draft picks in 2027.
Jalen Ramsey, who is 30 years old, has been recognized as one of the top cornerbacks since he entered the NFL in 2016. Drafted fifth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ramsey has made significant contributions to his teams over his nine-season career. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 208 pounds, he is a three-time All-Pro player with notable versatility in defense.
Ramsey’s statistics include 24 career interceptions and 108 pass breakups. Last season with Miami, he allowed just a 62% completion rate on throws into his coverage and maintained an opposing quarterback passer rating of 83.2 when targeted. He also contributed effectively to blitzes, recording several defensive plays such as sacks and quarterback hurries.
Jonnu Smith brings experience working under Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith from their time together in Tennessee. During his tenure with the Titans, Smith showed promising performance with combined receptions for significant yardage and touchdowns. His best season came last year in Miami where he earned Pro Bowl honors.
Smith is known for his athleticism as a move tight end and offers blocking capabilities beneficial in zone schemes. At the NFL Scouting Combine in 2017, he demonstrated impressive physical attributes that enhance his matchup potential against defenses.
The addition of Smith complements an existing group of tight ends on the Steelers roster including Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward. The team previously utilized two-tight end packages frequently last season, ranking them among the higher users of this formation in the league.
With Aaron Rodgers as their new quarterback, who historically favors utilizing tight ends extensively throughout his career, this acquisition suggests that Pittsburgh plans to target the middle field more actively in their passing game strategy moving forward.
Dale Lolley contributes to “SNR Drive” on Steelers Nation Radio where further insights into these trades can be explored through their podcast offerings.
