What once seemed it would take a day, turned into weeks and now a month but the Miami Dolphins have moved the two players they were rumored to be moving on from – CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith are headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers for what appears to be a swap for former Dolphins’ first round pick S Minkah Fitzpatrick and draft picks.

For many in the Dolphins community, the hunch here is that this will be received as bad news, especially the Smith side of the equation. Here at the Aqua & Coral Report, we see it as good news with more news possibly on the horizon.

THE RETURN OF FITZPATRICK

There is now little point for discussion over who won the trade between the Dolphins and Steelers in 2019 as both players involved now reside on the Dolphins’ roster.

After being drafted 11^th overall by Miami in 2018, Fitzpatrick apparently fell out of favor with then head coach Brian Flores for his unwillingness to learn and play multiple positions. He was shipped in early 2018 to the Steelers for what would be the 18^th overall selection in 2019, a pick the Dolphins would use on OT Austin Jackson.

Early on, the trade looked questionable as Fitzpatrick has been a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection, while Jackson languished somewhat in his early days in Miami.

The last few years, however, Jackson has proven to be a valuable component of the Dolphins trench play, improving each year. His loss last year seemed to spell the end of Miami’s success in the run game. Regardless, offensive tackle is valued much greater in the NFL than safety so Jackson’s recent play shows the original trade – or what’s left of it – to have mostly been a wash.

For his career, Fitzpatrick comes back to Miami with 608 career tackles, 20 interceptions and 54 passes defended. Notably, last year he was paired with Deshon Elliott, a safety the Dolphins chose not to resign following a solid 2023 season and who had a very good season against the run in Pittsburgh in ‘24, leading to him being resigned for two years, $9.21 million guaranteed in June of this year.

COULD THERE BE MORE TO COME?

Though both Ramsey and Fitzpatrick were reportedly up to be traded, it does come somewhat of a surprise that both end up in Pittsburgh. The urgency to move on from Smith is possibly telling in one way, but could be telling in more than one.

The first thought — as has been the case since Mike McDaniel arrived and immediately showed a distaste for one-dimensional tight ends in the form of Mike Gesicki – is that the Dolphins are ready to move to a more traditional tight end role. One that suits their recent personnel movement back to power football.

A true Y tight end offers flexibility Miami has yet to show out of the position under McDaniel, and if the coach is truly on the hot seat as people suggest, it’s time to get the players in here who fit what this offense does so he can completely show it.

Yes, Smith had a very good receiving year last year. But it came in a season when the Miami offense overall was in a funk. He was the option available when defenses started playing two-high safeties in order to keep the Dolphins offense in front of it. It worked in stifling the receivers and that is not a good thing.

Utilizing a more traditional tight end is ideal, but at present the Dolphins do not have that guy unless Julian Hill – a fantastic blocker – drastically steps up his game in the receiving department.

The second part of the “more to come” question is really just speculation that simply won’t leave the brain – the Dolphins could be going after Raiders’ tight end Michael Mayer.

At this point, it is hard to envision what draft or other capital the Dolphins have to give, so it may be a pipe dream. But the addition of Mayer would be the perfect fit to this somewhat newly-constructed offense, giving it a true option who can show a run look the way outside zone schemes always want its front to show, while having the receiving ability to quickly shift that look and present problems in the passing game because Mayer is a good receiver and powerful runner.

The Raiders have Brock Bowers, which is why a player of Mayer’s caliber would be available.

One other thought is that Miami may now be invested in Tanner Conner, should they decide to fill Smith’s old role with a similar receiver-type player. Counting on Conner at this point, however, would be for a person of extreme faith – this will be his fourth season in Miami with little to show for it.

ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION

Ramsey’s exit, though signaled some time ago, is a good thing for a Miami team looking for some different personalities in its locker room. Ramsey is a known malcontent.

The Dolphins defensive backs room looks a heck of a lot safer with the addition of Fitzpatrick, but the corners may be the worst group in the NFL. That’s not being sensationalist – it’s just a reality based on the collective experience and success of the group. One has to think there is more to come in terms of addition but if not, at least this trade gives the team a successful, experienced player behind them.

TERMS UNANNOUNCED

As this trade was initially broken it seems by Ramsey himself, the exact terms of the trade in terms of finances have not been disclosed. The $1.5 million addition to Ramsey’s salary likely was spilled by his agent but it says nothing about who is paying it or how much else they are paying.

Regardless, this feels like a good day for the Miami Dolphins, who can now start looking at their roster and know it’s closer to being what it will be come the start of the 2025 season. That in itself has to be a comfort to both the players and McDaniel, who will seek to have a firmer grasp on his team this year.

ONE FINAL NOTE

The addition of the 2027 5th round selection is interesting. Miami continues to add picks, including the third rounder it picked up for 2026 when it traded out of one of its 4th round selections.

Tua Tagavailoa’s contract has an out in 2027 should things not go well the next two years or Tagavailoa continue to show a penchant for being injured. It is also a year that the draft is expected to be loaded with quarterback talent.