On Monday, the Miami Dolphins agreed to a trade that sends the All-Pro cornerback to the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to the cornerback himself. In return, the Dolphins are reuniting with three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, whom they originally drafted in the first round in 2018.
Rumors have been swirling around Ramsey since before the NFL draft, after Miami announced its mutual intentions to seek a trade. As the Dolphins entertained offers, it was unclear which team would come forward with the necessary compensation to complete a deal.
Ramsey still has four years remaining on his deal, including the entirety of a three-year, $72.3 million extension he signed prior to the 2024 season. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the trade to Pittsburgh included a $1.5 million raise for this season. Ramsey is expected to earn $26.6 million in 2025.
Despite his strong play, committing big money to the 30-year-old cornerback likely depressed the market. Still, the deal eventually came to fruition.
According to Over The Cap, Ramsey’s status as a post-June 1 trade means the Dolphins will get a $6.75 million cap hit in each of the next three seasons, plus a nearly $5 million hit in 2028. However, the move also saves them nearly $10 million in 2025 space, $18.3 million in 2026, $20.1 million in 2027, $31.2 million in 2028 and $12.4 million in 2029.
For the Steelers, Ramsey adds to a secondary that already looked strong on paper. Joey Porter Jr. and Beanie Bishop Jr. are two solid young players at cornerback, and veteran Darius Slay also signed on in free agency. With Fitzpatrick going back to the Dolphins as part of the trade, DeShon Elliott and free agent signee Juan Thornhill are expected to start at the two safety spots.
Jalen Ramsey trade details
Steelers receive:
CB Jalen Ramsey
TE Jonnu Smith
2027 seventh-round pick
Dolphins receive:
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
2027 fifth-round pick
It’s a straight-up, player-for-player trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Steelers add a strong piece to their secondary but lose another one. The same goes for the Dolphins, who bring back the safety they drafted with the No. 11 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.