Looking at all aspects of blockbuster Dolphins trades of Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith

Yahoo

4 days ago

The Miami Dolphins have traded cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Pittsburgh for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Read that again. A whopper of a deal.
Miami Dolphins trade Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith: 10 Instant Thoughts
1. On paper, the Dolphins lose this deal. Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith are two of their most talented players. But there is always more to deals than the obvious.
2. General manager Chris Grier wants players in Miami who want to be here. Think about the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Everyone wants to play for them. For various reasons, Ramsey and Smith were unhappy.
3. Without knowing every detail, I would have given Jonnu Smith a raise, at least for one year. I'm sure Miami would like to get out of the business of giving raises to players already under contract. But Miami is now depleted at tight end.
NOW WHAT? Dolphins left depleted at key positions after Jonnu Smith, Jalen Ramsey trade
4. Can the Dolphins really go into this season with Pharaoh Brown, Tanner Conner, Julian Hill and perhaps a rookie in the tight end room? Maybe. Miami wants to run more and more effectively and Brown and Hill can block. Yes, Hill needs to reduce penalties.
5. After trading Ramsey and cutting Kendall Fuller, the Dolphins are gutted at cornerback. At the moment, the starters are Storm Duck, Cam Smith and Kader Kohou. It's possible folks such as Jason Marshall, Ethan Bonner and Artie Burns compete for some playing time. Not a good situation at all.
6. One would think Grier will sign a veteran free-agent cornerback such as Rasul Douglas, James Bradberry, Asante Samuel or Stephon Gilmore. None of those players is in his physical prime. Samuel has an injury concern. But Grier will have to at least look at another legitimate cornerback competitor.
7. Ramsey is a very talented lone wolf. The Dolphins are preaching culture change. Ramsey could be emotional, moody, unpredictable and mercurial. Some of the deletions Miami has made hurt leadership, such as Calais Campbell and Terron Armstead. But Miami has also moved on from Ramsey, Jevon Holland, Odell Beckham Jr. and even some assistant coaches such as Wes Welker. There is a thought process in which additions by subtraction become part of the equations.
8. It's so ironic that the Dolphins are reacquiring Fitzpatrick. He was traded from Miami because he wasn't happy with his role in the Brian Flores defense. Is Minkah, now 28, more open to being moved around like a Ramsey 'chess piece' or is everyone better off if he just plays one spot?
9. The Dolphins are quite strong at positions like wide receiver, running back and edge rusher, but quite questionable at positions like cornerback and tight end. It seems to be an imbalanced, imperfect roster. Is it good enough to mask deficiencies?
10. There would seem to be pressure on Grier and coach Mike McDaniel to win a playoff game in 2025. But it won't be easy. Miami didn't do it last year and now it will give it a go without Ramsey, Kendall Fuller, Holland, Campbell, Da'Shawn Hand, Armstead and Smith. On paper, it's hard to argue the talent level has not weakened. Miami is hoping success does in fact go beyond paper, and includes things like better team chemistry and commitment.
Jonnu Smith's value: Miami Dolphins Top 10 players countdown: Jonnu Smith is No. 8, vital to this offense
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [e-mail] and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins roster thin at CB, TE after Jalen Ramsey trade