Ex-NFL GM before Jalen Ramsey trade: ‘Miami’s trying to give him away’

The Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers recently agreed to a blockbuster trade that will give both teams a new look heading into the 2025 season.

The Steelers acquired cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith and a seventh-round pick from the Dolphins in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a fifth-round pick.

By getting the trade done, the Dolphins wrapped up two of their biggest loose ends this offseason. Ramsey had been on the trading block for a long time and now finally lands with a new team, while Smith and the Dolphins were navigating a contract situation that had to be resolved one way or another.

The trade isn’t all sunshine and roses for the Dolphins, but it appears they did well to get a player like Fitzpatrick back after they were supposedly looking to just give Ramsey away.

“I was talking to a general manager just a couple weeks ago who — I should say former general manager — with intimate knowledge when it comes to Jalen Ramsey,” Tyler Dunne of Go Long said. “And he’s like, ‘Man, clearly nobody wants this guy. Miami’s trying to give him away. Nobody wants him.'”

To help mitigate the loss of Smith, the Dolphins also recently agreed to a deal to acquire tight end Darren Waller, who had been in retirement.

In Ramsey, the Dolphins are losing a player who has earned seven Pro Bowl bids and three All-Pro nods at a position where Miami desperately needs help. In Smith, the Dolphins are losing a player who just had a career year with 884 receiving yards.

But Miami is getting a nice piece in Fitzpatrick, a safety who is a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selectee himself. In addition, the Dolphins’ separate deal for Waller could pay dividends, as he’s had some strong seasons in the past and remains young enough at 32.

It’s going to be an interesting season for Miami after some notable changes. There is still work to be done, especially at corner, but the Dolphins do have enough talented pieces on their roster to warrant some consideration in the playoff race.

Miami finished below .500 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time under head coach Mike McDaniel. The franchise is still trying to snap its playoff victory drought.