“The Steelers have no intention of trading star pass rusher T.J. Watt and their focus remains on extending Watt’s contract, per sources,” wrote Pelissero. That aligns with virtually every other report regarding the situation, which have expressed confidence that the two sides will come to an agreement before the season.
It is easy to see why the Steelers want to hold onto Watt, who ranks second in the NFL with 30.5 sacks since 2023. All of the team’s offseason moves, especially their signing of Aaron Rodgers, indicates their intention to try to compete in 2025, but dealing Watt would be a critical blow to their pass rush.
However, the Steelers are planning to draft a quarterback early in the 2026 draft, which could be part of a broader organizational reset. The team’s success under Mike Tomlin has consistently positioned their top pick in the back half of the first round, making it difficult to acquire a top quarterback prospect. A sizable offer for Watt could draw Pittsburgh’s attention if they believe it will help them land a franchise signal-caller in 2026.
A number of edge rushers have been traded in the last few years, but none have merited a first-round pick (or equivalent value) since the Broncos dealt Bradley Chubb in 2022 and Von Miller the year prior. The Steelers should be able to get at least as much for Watt, even considering his contract demands, but they seem to have little desire to hear such offers until and unless they have exhausted every possible path for an extension.
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Minkah Fitzpatrick is back in Miami. What will the Steelers defense look like without the three-time All-Pro?
In a blockbuster Monday trade, the Steelers sent safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a late-round pick swap.
Ramsey and Fitzpatrick, although both are at or near the end of their prime, are among the best defensive backs of their era. However, they’re different players and not a one-to-one swap in the Pittsburgh secondary.
Ramsey has played cornerback his entire NFL career, and Fitzpatrick, safety. In the upcoming season, how will the Steelers replace what Fitzpatrick brought to the Pittsburgh defense?
Juan Thornhill
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An under-the-radar free agent signing in the spring, Thornhill is now one of the biggest names to watch at Steelers training camp. The veteran isn’t a projected third safety anymore — he might be the team’s de facto starter at free safety.
How comparable is Thornhill to Fitzpatrick? They’re definitely not the same quality of player — there’s a reason why the former signed for just $3 million and an expected backup gig in free agency — but their usage was similar last season.
The Browns, like the Steelers, were a primarily single-high safety team in 2024, and Thornhill operated in a Fitzpatrick-esque role in the Cleveland secondary.
Thornhill isn’t on Fitzpatrick’s level. He’s less fluid and athletic in coverage, and his missed tackle rate last season (9.3%) was over double Fitzpatrick’s (4%). Thornhill’s passer rating allowed in 2024, 141.7 (a career worst), also compares poorly to Fitzpatrick’s 127.6 (also a career worst).
But coverage statistics, especially at safety, never tell the whole story. On film, Thornhill looks the part of a capable, although imperfect, defender. He has some splash to his game, too, with a penchant for laying out big hits over the middle of the field.
Ironically, while Fitzpatrick’s declining interception numbers (just one over the last two seasons) were often the first piece of evidence when discussing his regression, Thornhill has zero takeaways over that same span.
However, Thornhill has started 74 of his 87 career NFL games, and he still looks the part of a starting-level defender. With an intriguing cornerback room around him and a talented pass-rush in front of him, he should have plenty of help in 2025. He’s a clear frontrunner for the Steelers’ starting free safety job entering training camp.
Jalen Ramsey
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The Steelers traded for Ramsey and will be paying him a lot of money in 2025. He’ll be on the field a lot.
The question is, where?
Ramsey, as mentioned earlier, has been listed at cornerback his entire NFL career. But during his college career at Florida State, he saw some “star” and safety duties along with his snaps on the boundary. He’s a versatile talent, which appears to be one of the top reasons Pittsburgh traded for the former top-five pick.
Per NFL Pro, Ramsey played just eight snaps last season when aligned as a safety pre-snap. He still lined up as a boundary cornerback the majority of the time, but he saw 154 snaps in the slot as well as over 50 snaps in the box.
No information has come out regarding how the Steelers plan to use Ramsey yet; it’s a situation that should become more clear during training camp.
Ramsey will turn 31 in October. He’s at an age where cornerback play declines, and his last All-Pro was in 2021. However, he’s always been at his best in zone coverage, and he’s a noticeably physical presence near the line of scrimmage as cornerback.
As a result, there’s been plenty of realistic speculation in recent months that Ramsey could prolong his NFL career by making the switch to safety.
However, the Steelers’ biggest weakness on defense entering the 2025 season has been slot cornerback, a position expected to be manned by 2024 undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop. Bishop started six games last year but was benched midseason for Cameron Sutton.
Even with Fitzpatrick out of town, Ramsey would be a bigger upgrade in the slot over Bishop than he would be at safety over Thornhill.
However, Ramsey’s versatility gives the Steelers license to move him around all over the defense in 2025. Last year, the Steelers would swap out Sutton or Bishop for Damontae Kazee to run their “big nickel” three-safety defense.
Ramsey can stay on the field for both. At 6’1, 208 pounds, he’s almost the exact same size as Fitzpatrick and much bigger than Bishop.
With Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. locked into boundary duties, Ramsey should serve as a chess piece the Steelers can play at multiple spots depending on their defensive formation. Thornhill will likely be the closest to a true Fitzpatrick replacement in terms of usage, but Ramsey should still see some snaps at safety over the course of the season.
While he might be a starter in the slot over the short term, the Steelers might envision a move to safety in the future. Thornhill is on a one-year deal; Ramsey is slated to hit free agency in 2029.
Free agent options
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There’s still a decent crop of free agent safeties available. Even if Ramsey will be serving as a third safety of sorts for Pittsburgh, the Steelers could certainly still add at the position if he will be seeing most of his snaps at corner.
Per Spotrac, some of the top free agents remaining include:
The average age of the names above is well over 30, with Poyer the elder statesman at 34. The only player who will be under 28 when the season starts is Blackmon.
If it’s an affordable contract, the former Colt could be an option for Pittsburgh. He has seven interceptions over the last two seasons, meaning he’d fit well into a defensive culture that takes pride in creating turnovers.
However, Blackmon has started nearly every game of his five-year NFL career up to this point, and there’s a strong chance he wouldn’t want to sign for a reserve role in Pittsburgh. But as the offseason continues, unsigned players will be more open to team-friendly scenarios.
A name like Marcus Williams, a former starter who was benched at the end of last season, could be a more realistic possibility for a backup role. Former stars like Justin Simmons and Jordan Poyer could also make sense; they’re veterans nearing the end of their careers hoping for another season or two with a possible playoff team.
Former Rams and Browns safety John Johnson III is another name that stands out. He’s been an on-and-off starter over his career, but has a strong reputation as a communicator and motivator on the defenses he’s been a part of.
However, it doesn’t seem likely that the Steelers will make a splash signing at safety. In 2025, Thornhill, and Ramsey to a certain extent, should bear the brunt of replacing what Minkah Fitzpatrick brought to the Steeler defense.
If the Steelers add another name at the position group, it’ll likely be an affordable depth piece. But then again, this Pittsburgh offseason has been anything but predictable.
Insiders say there’s league-wide interest in T.J. Watt, but the Steelers aren’t showing interest in dealing the star pass-rusher.
After trading one of their biggest stars Monday morning, nothing looks off the table for a Steelers front office that’s already traded for D.K. Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith, signed Aaron Rodgers, and jettisoned George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick this offseason.
It’s no surprise then that trade rumors around star outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who’s currently in a contract dispute, are starting to swirl. On the last year of his current deal, Watt has held out of Pittsburgh’s OTAs and mandatory minicamp as he waits for a new extension.
Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett reset the market for his position with a $40 million-per-year extension in 2025. Watt, on his current deal, is making a yearly average of just over $28 million.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that teams have been discussing the possibility of a Watt trade given that he’s “unhappy” with his contract situation — and Pittsburgh’s recent trade only reinforces the belief they might be open to moving the former Defensive Player of the Year.
However, Schefter added, “Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far,” and reports from other Steelers beat writers and NFL reporters have backed it up.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero posted on X, formerly Twitter, that sources have told him the team has “no intention” of trading Watt. “(T)heir focus remains on extending Watt’s contract.”
However, the door might be more open to a trade than before. “Six months ago, I’d say there was no way T.J. Watt wouldn’t be a Steeler for the 2025 season,” wrote ESPN Steelers beat writer Brooke Pryor on X Monday. “I still think it’s incredibly unlikely he goes anywhere, but this regime is a real wild card.”
On Monday, PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh posted a source’s more blunt assessment of the Watt trade rumors: “F—- no.”
DeShon Elliott loses his “partner in crime” Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The Steelers made a monster trade Monday morning, sending safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a Day 3 pick swap.
One Steeler affected by the trade is strong safety DeShon Elliott, who signed with Pittsburgh in the 2024 offseason and was extended in 2025. Playing alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick last season, Elliott enjoyed a career year as a box safety while Fitzpatrick handled single-high coverage duties.
“Happy 5 (Jalen Ramsey) is a Steeler! But boy imma miss my partner in crime . Both Potential Gold Jackets , respect the game ! This s—- a business at the end of the day,” he posted.
Elliott isn’t wrong that both defensive backs already have impressive NFL legacies. Each have three first-team All-Pros. Fitzpatrick has five Pro Bowls. Ramsey has seven as well as a Super Bowl ring.
The Steelers sending Fitzpatrick back to the team that drafted him isn’t the only past connection highlighted by the trade. Elliott played with Ramsey in Miami in 2023. Despite losing his “partner in crime” in Fitzpatrick, he’s now reunited with an old teammate.
Free agent WR Gabe Davis still an option for Steelers on offense, too. He really enjoyed his visit there. Though he could take his time to sign, possibly closer to training camp.
“Free agent WR Gabe Davis still an option for Steelers on offense, too,” Fowler wrote. “He really enjoyed his visit there. Though he could take his time to sign, possibly closer to training camp.”
From the way the report is worded, it’s hard to tell if Fowler has new information or if he’s just sending out a reminder given the other big Steelers news of the day.
Regardless, it shows that just because Davis left his Steelers meeting earlier in June without a contract, it doesn’t mean the two parties aren’t interested.
While not as big a name as Ramsey or Smith, Davis, still just 26, has 2,969 career receiving yards, 183 receptions averaging 16.2 yards each, and 29 touchdowns.
Although Davis recorded just 239 receiving yards in 10 games with Jacksonville last season, he never dropped under 549 yards a season during the first four years of his NFL career as a Buffalo Bill. In 2022, his best pro season, Davis notched 836 yards and seven touchdowns.
With a prototypical wide receiver build at 6’2, 216 pounds, Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds coming out of college in 2020.
Unfurling the financial ramifications is going to take a bit and won’t be fully clear for a few days probably, but let’s go step by step with what we know and then add in some informed speculation.
Salary cap impact of Steelers trading for Jalen Ramsey’s contract
Jalen Ramsey’s compensation for the 2025 season was mostly tied up in an option bonus due Week 1. That gives the Steelers a chance to spread out the cap hit over the course of up to five years. They added $1.5 million in cash to make Ramsey happy, and combining about $19 million in option bonus money plus his minimum base salary of $1.255 million, you get a total cash outlay of $21.755 million plus $45,000 in per-game roster bonuses.
The Dolphins already paid Ramsey $4 million in a roster bonus in March, so when you see someone say Ramsey is going to make $26.6 million in 2025, that money is included.
We don’t know yet if the extra $1.5 million is salary or option bonus, so the cap hit is still a bit fluid. If we assume the raise is in base salary, his option bonus cap hit is $3.8 million plus $2.755 million in base salary plus $765,000 in Likely To Be Earned bonuses, leaving his cap hit under $7.5 million for 2025.
Option bonus: $18.9 million Base salary $1.255 million New money somewhere: $1.5 million Total cash from Pittsburgh: $22 million plus incentives Cap hit: Between $7 and $8 million
Steelers salary cap ramifications of adding Jonnu Smith
The Jonnu Smith addition is much more nebulous in terms of structure. It was reported that Smith was signing a $12 million one-year contract extension, but it is likely to include some sort of raise for 2025. Here is what we know.
Smith was set to make $4.09 million in 2025, but $100,000 of that was workout bonus with the Dolphins. His $3.49 million base salary and $29,411 per-game roster bonus will be earned during the season, so if he plays 17 games, he was set to earn $3.99 million with the Steelers which is also his current cap hit for Pittsburgh.
If I was Smith, I’d want part of the $12 million up front as part of my 2025 compensation, and looking at the complete details of two years and $16 million, I’m guessing the additional money in 2025 will be around $4 million to level off the two seasons at $8 million apiece.
His cap hit could be anywhere from $1.7 million or so up to $8 million. We need to know the structure of the extension before we cement that in.
Steelers salary cap ramifications of trading Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Steelers had pushed some of Minkah Fitzpatrick’s cap hits into the future, but trading him after June 1 will allow them to spread the dead cap over two seasons in 2025 and 2026. His total dead cap number is $13.71 million. Half will count in 2025 and half in 2026 at $6.855 million per season.
The Steelers are no longer on the hook for any of Fitzpatrick’s actual cash in either season. The Dolphins will pay his $15.5 million salary in 2025 and his $17.6 million salary in 2026, assuming they don’t release him or alter his contract in the meantime.
What are the salary cap ramifications of the mega trade for the Steelers?
In terms of net outgoing and incoming, Ramsey’s $7.5 million cap hit plus the Fitzpatrick dead cap hit of $6.855 million totals $14.355 million. That is less than what Fitzpatrick was going to count by himself thanks to his $15.5 million base salary. So Pittsburgh gets some cap relief.
Fitzpatrick’s old 2025 cap hit: $22.355 million Ramsey+Fitzpatrick new cap hit: $14.355 million 2025 cap savings of the DB swap: $8 million
Some part of that $8 million is going to be used for the addition of Smith, but the Steelers already had more than $20 million in cap space so they were set before and will be set after.
In terms of actual cash, the Steelers are going to be spending a lot more on Ramsey+Smith in 2025 and then again in 2026. Ramsey’s $22.6 million is much higher than Fitzpatrick’s $15.5 million in compensation on its own.
The Steelers have traded the three-time All-Pro safety
The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired three-time First-Team All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins, and the compensation has been revealed. However, it wasn’t draft picks that Pittsburgh sent to the Dolphins, it was their own three-time All-Pro.
The Steelers are trading safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins in exchange for Ramsey, per Adam Schefter. In a separate move, the Steelers are landing tight end Jonnu Smith for a late-round pic-swap.
Steelers-Dolphins trade, Part II: Dolphins are trading tight end Jonnu Smith to the Steelers for a late-round pick swap, per ESPN sources.
Smith will get a one-year contract extension for $12 million, confirmed by agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.
Dolphins have agreed to trade CB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith and a 2027 7th round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for S Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 5th round pick. pic.twitter.com/npKjAyEydb
Fitzpatrick was one of the longest-tenured Steelers, joining the team via trade from the Dolphins in 2019. That season, he had five interceptions and earned his first All-Pro nod. He became known for making opportune splash plays when the Steelers needed them the most, picking off 17 passes from 2019-22. However, over the last two seasons, those plays had become fewer and farther between. Fitzpatrick didn’t have an interception in 2023 and missed seven games. And while he appeared in all 17 games in 2024, he picked off just one pass.
Jonnu Smith spent time with Arthur Smith in Atlanta with the Falcons. He is coming off an 88-catch season that saw him earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. Both sides were rumored to be interested in a trade for quite sometime, and now a massive blockbuster takes place on the last day of June.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Smith will receive a one-year, $12MM extension upon arrival in Pittsburgh, allowing him to earn a raise as hoped. Finances were a sticking point between he and the Dolphins. Smith preferred to remain in Miami, but after enjoying a career year and setting a new franchise record for tight end production he aimed to parlay his play into a new pact.
On more than one occasion, the Steelers emerged as a potential landing spot for Smith in the event no new Dolphins pact could be worked out. Talks on a Miami extension took place, but the 29-year-old’s absence from minicamp was a sign this situation could end in a change of scenery. After only one year with the Dolphins, Smith is indeed on the move once again. Of course, today’s news means he is in store for another reunion with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Jonnu and Arthur Smith worked together with the Titans and again when they were alongside each other with the Falcons. The latter took on OC duties in Pittsburgh last season, overseeing an offense which used both Russell Wilsonand Justin Fieldsat quarterback. QB1 duties are now held by Aaron Rodgers, who will likely retire after this season. The Steelers are certainly not being shy in terms of notable moves on both sides of the ball in preparation for the coming campaign.
Pittsburgh already has Pat Freiermuthin place at the tight end spot. The former second-rounder is under contract through 2028, something which made a potential Smith move a somewhat awkward one. Now that it is in place, though, the Steelers can be expected to lean heavily on two-tight end sets. With uncertainly looming over the team’s WR options aside from D.K. Metcalf, Smith will give Pittsburgh a veteran pass-catching option.
The former third-rounder posted a statline of 88-884-8 last season, leading to his first career Pro Bowl nod. Expectations will be high for Smith with his fifth NFL team given his production and the fact he will be in a familiar scheme. For the Dolphins, meanwhile, Ramsey’s departure has created a notable vacancy at the CB position; the loss of Smith will likewise leave the team short on experienced tight ends.
The 2025 offseason has seen a major exodus in terms of veterans in Miami, by means of free agent departures, releases and trades. As the Dolphins look to bounce back from last year’s underwhelming campaign, they will do so with a slew of new faces on both sides of the ball. Smith is now under contract for the next two years. He will look to operate as a complementary option for Rodgers and Co. as Pittsburgh takes a run at a Super Bowl in 2025.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired Jalen Ramsey
The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading for Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Steelers are giving Ramsey a $1.5 million raise in 2025, which will take his compensation up to $26.6 million.
After news broke on the Ramsey side of the deal, we learned that the compensation for the Ramsey trade was safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. No draft picks were involved.
The Steelers had been named as a team to watch for Ramsey earlier in the month, but it was speculated that Pittsburgh was unlikely to be the destination. Instead, the Steelers pull off the trade and land a former All-Pro to put in their secondary opposite Joey Porter Jr and Darius Slay.
Ramsey is a three-time First-Team All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He has 24 career interceptions and helped the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI back in the 2021 season. He will now likely find himself as the nickel cornerback for the Steelers in what is now a star-studded secondary.
The Jalen Ramseytrade saga is coming to an end. The All-Pro corner is on the move, but not out west as many predicted.
The Dolphins have reached agreement with the Steelers on a Ramsey swap, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Pittsburgh recently emerged as the most recent team likely to be eliminated from the list of landing spots in this case, but a trade has nevertheless been worked out. Ramsey will receive a $1.5MM bump in pay as part of this deal.
Adding an unexpected layer to this blockbuster deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports safety Minkah Fitzpatrickis headed the other way in the swap. Fitzpatrick began his career in Miami, and the former first-rounder was dealt to the Steelers in 2019. He will now return to his original team for 2025.
Rapoport notes the Rams and Steelers were the two main Ramsey suitors, with Los Angeles long representing the expected destination in this situation. He adds Pittsburgh was out of the running until very recently, but that has obviously changed rather quickly. Ramsey himself has confirmed that he is headed to the Steelers, which will be his fourth career team.
The three-time All-Pro spent the past two seasons in Miami, rebounding from his injury-shortened 2023 campaign to play a full slate last year. Ramsey appeared set to remain in South Beach for the foreseeable future when he agreed to a lucrative extension last offseason, but a falling out with head coach Mike McDaniel led to the mutual decision a parting of ways would be best. Ramsey was on the trade block through the spring, but the list of suitors publicly expressing interest proved to be rather short.
Rams head coach Sean McVay made it clear the team was open to a Ramsey reunion (after he helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2021). Finances were a sticking point in this case, however. The seven-time Pro Bowler has already received a $4MM roster bonus from Miami, but his outstanding $21MM-plus in compensation for the year is guaranteed. Ramsey is on the books for another three yeas after the coming campaign, but an adjustment to his pact has been expected upon arrival with an acquiring team.
Despite a limited market emerging, the Dolphins remained steadfast in their desire to move on from Ramsey. The 30-year-old has proven to be one of the league’s top corners over the course of his career, although age will become a concern during his Steelers tenure. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh’s CB depth chart now includes another standout veteran after the team added Darius Slayin free agency. Those two will join returnee Joey Porter Jr. in a secondary which will look much different in 2025.
Fitzpatrick only played 18 games during his first Dolphins tenure. Expectations were high for the former No. 11 pick, but his departure came about as part of the team’s maneuvering in advance of the 2020 draft (which brought about the selection of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa). Upon arrival in Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick shone and earned first-team All-Pro honors. He remained productive through the following years.
However, things took an unwanted turn following the 2022 campaign (one in which Fitzpatrick recorded a league-leading six interceptions). Over the past two seasons, the Alabama product has been limited to just one pick and seven pass deflections while operating in different areas on the field. A five-time Pro Bowler, Fitzpatrick will aim to return to his previous form during his second Dolphins stint. His original team has a notable vacancy at the cornerback spot, but he will provide starting play at the safety position.
Two years remain on Fitzpatrick’s contract, and he is set to carry cap charges of $22.36MM and $24.46MM as things stand. With none of his remaining base salaries guaranteed, the Steelers will create $15.5MM in savings while generating a dead money charge of only $6.86MM. Those figures will help absorb the incoming Ramsey pact.
Pittsburgh has made a number of aggressive moves this offseason, deviating from standard operating procedure. The additions of Aaron Rodgersand D.K Metcalfwere aimed at upgrading on offense, a unit which has been further augmented with today’s blockbuster. Ramsey will aim to further fuel the team’s Super Bowl aspirations for what will likely be a one-and-done Rodgers season. The Dolphins, meanwhile, will move forward in 2025 with a much different core in terms of veterans on both sides of the ball.
Multiple teams have been exploring trading for Watt since he skipped Pittsburgh’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who added that “sources believe outside team interest is likely to increase given today’s trade.” Schefter also noted that “Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far,” and 10 minutes later, that was confirmed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
