It didn’t take long for the Dolphins’ latest blockbuster move to stir debate — but it may not be the one-sided loss fans expected.
The Dolphins officially moved on from Jalen Ramsey on Monday, sending the former All-Pro cornerback to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The trade also included tight end Jonnu Smith, who had just come off a career season in Miami and was seeking a new deal. In return, Miami received veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, while also sending out a 2027 seventh.
On the surface, the trade looked like a desperate clean-up job for a team that’s been under scrutiny all offseason — especially for general manager Chris Grier. After all, Grier had just signed Ramsey to a fresh extension last offseason. Fast forward one year later, and he’s unloading him for a player the team once traded away under a different regime.
But not everyone is calling it a loss. OutKick’s Armando Salguero believes Grier may have pulled off a low-key win in a high-pressure situation.
“Gotta say, and Dolphins fans will not agree, but Chris Grier turned a terrible situation in which everyone knew he HAD TO trade Ramsey and gets back a younger player the organization (minus Brian Flores) loved years ago is salvaging the situation,” Salguero posted. “The Dolphins could be winning this trade.”
It’s a fair point. Fitzpatrick, while reportedly declining, is still considered a top-10 safety by many around the league, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. His return also adds experience and familiarity to a secondary that has undergone significant turnover since the end of last season.
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More importantly, the move may have quieted some of the noise surrounding Grier — at least for now. The longtime GM has been considered a hot-seat candidate after a rocky offseason that’s included questions about Tua Tagovailoa’s future, Mike McDaniel’s control of the locker room, and a thinning roster.
Pulling a familiar face like Fitzpatrick out of a messy situation could go a long way in showing Grier still has control — even as the pressure continues to mount.
The optics of the Ramsey saga weren’t favorable. The Dolphins gave him a new extension last offseason, celebrated his arrival as a championship-caliber move, and then traded him just one year later after rumors swirled of behind-the-scenes tension. Whether that was due to injury, locker room friction, or simple buyer’s remorse, the move had the potential to blow back on Grier in a big way.
Instead, he flipped the narrative — at least temporarily. Not only did he ship out a player he “had” to move, but he did it while addressing a position of need, bringing back a younger, respected defensive leader who, at his best, has been one of the most impactful safeties in the NFL.
Will Fitzpatrick return to that level? That remains to be seen. But it’s clear Grier bought himself some time with this move — and maybe even tipped the scales back in his favor. For a front office under fire, that’s the kind of small win that can go a long way.
