The Miami Dolphins made a blockbuster trade on June 30, sending former All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Ramsey joins a loaded Steelers cornerback room that already includes Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay Jr. However, according to one report, the Steelers faced stiff competition from at least one other NFL team for Ramsey’s services.
Jalen Ramsey Traded to Steelers, but Not Without Competition
Ramsey arrived in Miami in March 2023 via a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, bringing with him a reputation as one of the league’s premier versatile defensive backs. The Dolphins, fresh off a playoff appearance and eager to capitalize on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s rookie contract window, viewed Ramsey as a final piece to elevate their defense into elite territory.
Despite a meniscus injury that delayed his debut until midseason, Ramsey had an immediate impact on former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense. Along with being asked to shadow top receivers, he willingly brought the boom in run support. In 2024, he started all 17 games, tallying 60 tackles, two interceptions, and 11 pass breakups.
Though not as impactful as he was in his prime, Ramsey remained an above-average player throughout his Dolphins tenure. However, something changed last season, with the relationship between Ramsey and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel reportedly taking a turn for the worse.
According to former Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero, “Ramsey has respect for general manager Chris Grier and others in the organization, but is leaving because his relationship with the head coach is irreparably broken and one cannot see himself playing for the other.”
This brings us to the present day, where Ramsey will be suiting up for his fourth NFL franchise in 10 seasons. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, two teams were deep in discussions with the Dolphins, who made it clear they were ready to move on from Ramsey after two seasons.
“The Rams and Steelers were the two main teams involved in the potential trade of Ramsey. In the end, Pittsburgh lands him. DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers… now [Ramsey],” Rapoport noted after news of the trade surfaced on social media.
The #Rams and #Steelers were the two main teams involved in the potential trade of Jalen Ramsey. In the end, PIT lands him. DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers… now Jalen. https://t.co/XouZmMIX0W
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 30, 2025
The Rams, hoping for a reunion with the star who helped anchor their Super Bowl 56 defense, were reportedly aggressive in their pursuit. While they need help in the secondary, it’s unlikely they would have been able to match the $26.6 million Ramsey will earn with the Steelers this season, who received a pay bump with the rest of his contract thin on guarantees.
With Ramsey officially off the market, the Rams can now concentrate on developing their younger cornerbacks or exploring options in the free agent market. However, knowing they narrowly missed out on reacquiring their former franchise cornerstone is likely to sting for some time.
