Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Largest 2025 Cap Hits: Defense

July 4th, 2025 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2025 offseason has been defined in no small part by extensions amongst the league’s top edge rushers. A number of high-profile situations on that front remain unresolved at this point, which will make for interesting storylines over the coming weeks. Still, pass rushers once again account for some of the top cap charges around the NFL.

Just like on offense, here is a breakdown of the top 25 defensive cap hits in 2025:

Maxx Crosby, DE (Raiders): $38.15MM
T.J. Watt, OLB (Steelers): $30.42MM
DeForest Buckner, DT (Colts): $26.6MM
Daron Payne, DT (Commanders): $26.17MM
Rashan Gary, OLB (Packers): $25.77MM
Montez Sweat, DE (Bears): $25.09MM
Denzel Ward, CB (Browns): $24.56MM
Micah Parsons, DE (Cowboys): $24.01MM
Derwin James, S (Chargers): $23.86MM
Roquan Smith, LB (Ravens): $23.72MM
Dexter Lawrence, DT (Giants): $23.64MM
Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): $23.6MM
Jeffery Simmons, DT (Titans): $22.7MM
L’Jarius Sneed, CB (Titans): $22.58MM
Vita Vea, DT (Buccaneers): $22.47MM
Minkah Fitzpatrick, S (Dolphins): $22.36MM
Jonathan Greenard, DE (Vikings): $22.3MM
Jessie Bates, S (Falcons): $22.25MM
Myles Garrett, DE (Browns): $21.92MM)
Quinnen Williams, DT (Jets): $21.59MM
Jaylon Johnson, CB (Bears): $21MM
Nick Bosa, DE (49ers): $20.43MM
Kenny Clark, DT (Packers): $20.37MM
Danielle Hunter, DE (Texans): $20.2MM
Zach Allen, DE (Broncos): $19.8MM

Crosby briefly held the title of the league’s highest-paid pass rusher when his latest Raiders extension was signed. That $35.5MM-per-year pact was quickly overtaken in value, but it put to rest speculation about a potential trade. Now fully healthy, Crosby’s level of play in 2025 will be critical in determining Vegas’ success.

Garrett currently leads the way in terms of AAV for edge rushers (and, in turn, all defensive players). He landed $40MM in annual compensation from the Browns in a deal which ended his long-running trade request. The four-time All-Pro sought a change of scenery to a Super Bowl contender but then altered his stance following communication with Cleveland’s front office. Garrett is now on the books through 2030.

Other notable pass rushers face an uncertain future beyond the coming campaign, by contrast. That includes Watt, who is not close to reaching an agreement on a third Steelers contract. The former Defensive Player of the Year is reported to be eyeing a pact which will again move him to the top of the pecking order for pass rushers. He thus finds himself in a similar situation to fellow 30-year-old All-Pro Trey Hendrickson with the Bengals.

While Hendrickson is believed to be aiming for a new deal similar in average annual value to those like Bosa and Hunter’s, Parsons could leapfrog Watt atop the pecking order by the time the season begins. Little (if any) progress has been made since Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reached a handshake agreement on the framework of a deal. Time remains for a pact to be finalized before training camp; failing that, the possibility of a hold-in will increase.

Recent years have seen a major spike in the valuation of interior defensive linemen capable of producing against the pass. It comes as no surprise, then, to see a multitude of D-tackles on the list. Buckner and Chris Jones are among the veterans with the longest track record of success in terms of sacks and pressures (along with disruptive play against the run, of course). Payne, Lawrence, Simmons and Williams were among the players who helped moved the position’s market upward with similar second contracts during the 2023 offseason.

Gary, Sweat and Greenard will again be counted on to lead the way in terms of pass rush production for their respective NFC North teams. Green Bay, Chicago and Minnesota each have upside elsewhere on the depth chart, but expectations will remain high for those three based on their lucrative deals. The highly competitive division will no doubt come down to head-to-head games, and they will be influenced in large part by the performances of each defense.

The cornerback market reached $30MM per year this offseason thanks to Derek Stingley Jr.‘s Texans extension. Given the term remaining on his rookie pact, though, his cap charge for this season checks in at a much lower rate than that of teammates like Hunter or other top CBs. Ward and Jaylon Jones are on the books through 2027, and the same is true of Sneed. The high-priced Tennessee trade acquisition did not enjoy a healthy debut season with his new team in 2024, but he appears to be set for full participation in training camp.

Safety and linebacker are among the positions which have witnessed slower growth than others recently. Still, a few top performers are attached to deals landing them on this list. Smith has been a first-team All-Pro performer during his tenure with the Ravens; he will be expected to remain one in 2025 and beyond. James and Bates will likewise be counted on as key playmakers in Los Angeles and Atlanta. Fitzpatrick will, interestingly, return to his original team after being part of the blockbuster Steelers-Dolphins trade from earlier this week.

Vea helped the Buccaneers rank fourth against the run last season while Clark and the Packers finished seventh in that regard. Both veterans have multiple years remaining on their deals, although in both cases the final season does not include guaranteed money. Vea and/or Clark could thus find themselves discussing an extension next offseason.

Allen is among the players listed who could have a new deal in hand before Week 1. The former Cardinal is coming off a career-best 8.5 sacks from the 2024 season. To no surprise, then, Allen is high on Denver’s list of extension priorities, and it will be interesting to see if the pending 2026 free agent works out a new pact prior to the start of the campaign.

WR Gabe Davis “Still An Option” For Steelers

July 4th, 2025 at 5:52pm CST by Ben Levine

JULY 4: Fowler’s colleague Brooke Pryor confirms receiver remains a position at which the Steelers are open to making an addition. The acquisition of tight end Jonnu Smith will give Pittsburgh another pass catcher, but Davis or a different free agent wideout could still wind up in the fold before training camp.

JULY 1: It’s been nearly a month since Gabe Davis visited the Steelers. While the veteran wide receiver didn’t immediately put pen to paper, it sounds like he remains a target for the organization. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Davis is “still an option” for Pittsburgh.

Fowler adds that the wideout “really enjoyed” his visit with the franchise back in June. However, Davis is expected to take his time deciding on his next landing spot, with Fowler suggesting that a signing could come closer to training camp.

Davis was a popular name after getting cut by the Jaguars in May. In addition to the Steelers, the 26-year-old met with the 49ers, Giants, and Saints. The receiver’s free agency tour ended with that New Orleans visit in early June, and we can assume each of those suitors remain in the race for the veteran’s services.

Davis inked a three-year, $39MM deal with the Jaguars last offseason, but he only lasted one season in Jacksonville before earning his walking papers. His 2024 campaign represented one of the worst seasons of his career, as the wideout compiled career-lows in receptions (20), receiving yards (239), and receiving touchdowns (two). Teams are still clearly banking on the player’s Buffalo performance, where he hauled in 27 touchdowns across four seasons. This included a 2022 campaign where the former fourth-round pick hauled in 48 catches for 836 yards.

The Steelers are naturally operating as if Davis won’t be on their squad in 2025, and this means they’re eyeing a group of receivers behind new WR1 D.K. Metcalf. As ESPN’s Brooke Pryor writes, Calvin Austin III currently appears to be in the lead for the team’s WR2 role.

The former fourth-round pick had a strong sophomore season, finishing with 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns. The organization is confident he can hit another level, with receivers coach Zach Azzanni declaring during minicamp that the second receiver role was “Calvin’s right now.”

As Pryor notes, Austin will still have to build a rapport with Aaron Rodgers, which will go a long way in determining the receiver hierarchy. The third-year player will be competing with the likes of Robert Woods, Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson, and Ben Skowronek for reps behind Metcalf.

Steelers Extend GM Omar Khan

July 3rd, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Omar Khan‘s tenure as general manager of the Steelers will not be ending any time soon. The team announced on Thursday that Khan has received a contract extension through 2028.

Kevin Colbert handled GM responsibilities in Pittsburgh from 2000-21. Khan loomed as a potential in-house successor during the latter stages of his tenure, so it came as no surprise when the team looked internally as part of the final round of interviews. Khan was promoted to the role in May 2022.

The timing of that move meant Khan was tasked with overseeing the start of the post-Ben Roethlisberger era at quarterback. That stretch has seen six different signal-callers start for Pittsburgh, but the team has yet to identify a long-term solution at the position. That remains true at the moment, but for 2025 Khan and the Steelers will rely on 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to lead the offense.

The decision to sign Rodgers (in June, ending a months-long run of uncertainty over whether or not he would suit up for a 21st NFL campaign) is one of several unorthodox moves Khan has made this offseason. The trade acquisition of D.K. Metcalf – which involved a big-ticket extension – and the departure of fellow wideout George Pickens coupled with the Rodgers signing mean Pittsburgh’s offense will look much different this year.

More recently, the Steelers and Dolphins pulled off a blockbuster trade. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith are now in place, while Minkah Fitzpatrick is not. The latter earned All-Pro acclaim early in his Pittsburgh tenure, but the past two years have seen a downturn in production. Despite two years remaining on Fitzpatrick’s contract, the team moved forward with a notable swap which sees Ramsey arrive with considerable term (and 2025 guarantees) remaining on his pact.

Khan has acted with an aggression Colbert did not often display during the 2025 offseason in particular. His moves up to this point have clearly sat well with owner Art Rooney II, who has certainly shown an affinity for stability in the front office and on the sidelines during his tenure. Regardless of how his recent moves play out, Khan will be in position to continue shaping the Steelers’ roster – which still has defensive stalwarts Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt in the fold – for years to come.

That effort will include the 2026 draft, an event which will take place in Pittsburgh. By next spring, Rodgers will likely be retired, leaving Khan and Co. in position to target a rookie passer early. Other key roster moves will be required regardless of how the current setup fares, but Rooney and the Steelers will not be on the lookout for a replacement in the front office in any case.

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coaches

July 3rd, 2025 at 10:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

By the end of the 2024 regular season, the Bears, Jets and Saints had already moved on from their head coaches. Those teams were joined by Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders and Patriots in making a change on the sidelines.

After their midseason terminations, Matt Eberflus, Robert Saleh and Dennis Allen each landed defensive coordinator gigs during the 2025 hiring cycle. The staffers who remained in place through the end of the campaign have yet to line up their next NFL opportunity, however. Mike McCarthy withdrew from the Saints’ search, setting the 61-year-old for at least one year out of coaching (just like the pause between his Packers and Cowboys stints).

Meanwhile, Doug Pederson was unable to parlay interest in an offensive coordinator position into a hire this spring. The former Super Bowl winner is thus set to be out of coaching for 2025. The same will also be true of Antonio Pierce and Jerod Mayo after their one-and-done stints as full-time head coaches did not go as planned.

While recent months have brought about the latest round of changes, many of the longest-tenured head coaches around the league remain in place. McCarthy was the only staffer within the top 10 on last year’s list in that regard who has been replaced. In all, nine head coaches hired at the beginning of this decade (or earlier) will carry on with their respective teams in 2025.

Six of those reside in the AFC, with Mike Tomlin – who became the league’s longest-tenured head coach last year in the wake of Bill Belichick’s Patriots departure – once again leading the way, albeit with questions about his future beyond this season present. The NFC will include Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur handling their familiar roles in 2025, although the latter (who has two years left on his deal) will not receive an early extension.

Here is a look at how the league’s head coaches shape up entering the 2025 campaign:

Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): January 27, 2007; extended through 2027
John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): January 19, 2008; extended through 2028
Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): January 4, 2013; extended through 2029
Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): January 11, 2017; extended through 2027
Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): January 12, 2017; extended through 2027
Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers): February 6, 2017; extended through 2027
Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers): January 8, 2019: extended through 2026
Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals): February 4, 2019; extended through 2026
Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): January 13, 2020; signed extension in June 2024
Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions): January 20, 2021; extended through 2027
Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles): January 21, 2021; signed offseason extension
Brian Daboll (New York Giants): January 28, 2022
Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): February 2, 2022; signed offseason extension
Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins): February 6, 2022; extended through 2028
Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): March 30, 2022; extended through 2028
Sean Payton (Denver Broncos): January 31, 2023
DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans): January 31, 2023
Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts): February 14, 2023
Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals): February 14, 2023
Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans): January 22, 2024
Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers): January 24, 2024
Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers): January 25, 2024
Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons): January 25, 2024
Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks): January 31, 2024
Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders): February 1, 2024
Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots): January 12, 2025
Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears): January 20, 2025
Aaron Glenn (New York Jets): January 22, 2025
Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 23, 2025
Pete Carroll (Las Vegas Raiders): January 24, 2025
Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys): January 24, 2025
Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints): February 11, 2025

T.J. Watt’s Next Contract Expected To Top Positional Market

July 3rd, 2025 at 3:35pm CST by Ben Levine

July 3: Watt doesn’t just want to reset his positional market; he wants to be the “highest-paid non-quarterback in the league,” according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via the Rich Eisen Show). That bar is currently set by Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase at $40.25MM per year. Watt would join fellow AFC North edge rusher Myles Garrett as the only defensive players with an APY over $40MM.

Such a contract would require a five-year deal on the Steelers’ end, per Dulac, keeping Watt in Pittsburgh through his age-36 season. The team may have some concerns about Watt’s game declining with age, but they are still willing to sign him to another long-term contract and believe they will come to an agreement before the season. Additionally, Dulac notes, the Jalen Ramsey trade has no financial bearing on the Steelers’ plans regarding Watt.

July 2: T.J. Watt‘s next contract was always expected to approach the top of his position, but it sounds like the former Defensive Player of the Year could reset the market altogether. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently stated that Watt will “probably” become the highest-paid pass rusher on his next deal.

“The Steelers, I’m sensing, are optimistic that they can reach a deal with Watt eventually,” Fowler said during a recent appearance on ESPN2 (h/t Barkley Truax of On3.com). “My sense is that he will probably be the highest-paid pass rusher in the league. When this is all said and done, he wants to be a Steeler for life. The Steelers want that. He’s a legacy type player.

“They believe at 30 years old, he still has several good years left. They’re just going to have to come up with a number and a good guarantee structure. He did miss minicamp, so Pittsburgh has a lot of work to do. But typically, Pittsburgh perks up in these things around training camp and late July.”

Watt is eyeing his third Steelers contract, and it sounds like this next pact could once again break records. Watt’s expiring four-year, $112MM contract ($80MM guaranteed) once made him the highest-paid defender in NFL history. With an average annual value around $28MM, Watt now sits seventh among edge rushers. Myles Garrett recently topped the market with a $40MM AAV; while Watt could temporarily leap the Cleveland pass rusher, impending deals for Aidan Hutchinson and Micah Parsons could quickly create a new benchmark.

Watt skipped out on mandatory minicamp as he pursued a new contract, subjecting him to more than $100K in fines. Teams reportedly reached out to the Steelers about a potential trade, although the organization has continued to express optimism that they’ll eventually agree to a new contract. Both sides are now working to wrap up negotiations by training camp, although it sounds like they continue to haggle over guarantees.

Watt’s age-30 season saw him compile 11.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, leading to him earning a second-team All-Pro nod. The Steelers are clearly confident that Watt can continue to contribute well into his 30s, but that hasn’t stopped the front office from considering some depth options. Alex Highsmith inked a four-year extension in 2023, and the team recently used a fourth-round pick on Jack Sawyer.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.

TE Jonnu Smith On Dolphins Departure

July 3rd, 2025 at 9:46am CST by Adam La Rose

Coming off a career year in 2024, Jonnu Smith aimed to remain in Miami for the coming season and beyond. Talks on an extension did not produce an agreement, however, leaving a trade as a distinct possibility.

Indeed, Smith was included in the blockbuster deal which saw All-Pro defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Minkah Fitzpatrick traded earlier this week. Smith, like Ramsey, is headed to Pittsburgh. That will allow him to reunite once again with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Nevertheless, the trade came as a surprise in Jonnu Smith’s case.

“I didn’t foresee this happening with how the season went for me individually,” the 29-year-old said during an appearance on former teammate Terron Armstead‘s podcast (video link). “I had aspirations of ending my career in Miami, with it being home for me, my children, my family. But I understand the business side of it, and it didn’t work out.”

2024 saw Smith record the most productive campaign by a tight end in Dolphins history with 884 yards and eight touchdowns. That helped his leverage in attempting to secure a raise on a new deal compared to the $4.09MM he was owed for the coming season. After a number of other offseason moves took place, though, the Dolphins made it known a new pact in line with Smith’s asking price was not forthcoming.

“We started this conversation in January with Miami and, obviously, giving me the run-around, ‘We’ll [get] back to it,’” Smith added. “I was patient with them throughout the whole entire process, and eventually it came to a point in time where they told me that they just can’t do it and they weren’t economically in a position to pay me like a Pro Bowl tight end.”

Over his first seven years in the league, Smith topped 500 receiving yards once. As a result, it is understandable the Dolphins viewed his Pro Bowl campaign in 2024 as an outlier more than an indication he would be able to duplicate that success moving forward in head coach Mike McDaniel‘s scheme. After agreeing to trade Smith to Pittsburgh, Miami took an unexpected route to find his replacement, acquiring the now-unretired Darren Waller from the Giants.

The Steelers worked out a one-year, $12MM Smith extension as part of the trade. The former third-rounder will be expected to operate as part of a productive TE tandem with Pat Freiermuth during a 2025 campaign which will feature several new faces on offense in Pittsburgh. How Smith fares in his latest NFL gig will be key in determining whether or not the Dolphins’ decision to move on was the right one.

Steelers Among Teams Interested In WR Tyler Boyd

July 1st, 2025 at 2:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd said over the weekend that he would “absolutely” like to sign with the Steelers, and apparently, the interest is mutual.

The Steelers have been in touch with Boyd this offseason, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show, but the veteran receiver has been unsatisfied with the financial offers from Pittsburgh or any other team.

“The word on the street is that all the offers [Boyd is] getting, they’re not very good offers, as in money-wise, so he’s going to play it out,” said Kaboly during a recent episode of the Kaboly + Mack podcast. Kaboly suggested the same was true regarding whatever discussions the Steelers have had with Boyd, whether they have included a formal offer or just more general conversations about potential compensation.

There are other available receivers like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen with better recent track records than Boyd, so he may have to wait for them to find a landing spot before another team meets his demands. He earned just under $2.4MM in Tennessee last year, per OverTheCap, for the worst full-season performance of his career with just 39 receptions for 390 yards. He also went the entire season – 16 games, eight starts, and 635 snaps – without finding the end zone, an unfortunate career-first, causing him to miss out on $2.1MM of available incentives.

Now, Boyd may have to consider a veteran minimum salary of $1.255MM with additional money available via incentives, and unlike his deal with the Titans, his next contract may not include any guaranteed money.

Dolphins Trade Jalen Ramsey To Steelers For Minkah Fitzpatrick

June 30th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jalen Ramsey trade 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 and is now official. Ramsey will receive a $3MM bump in pay as part of this deal.

With the Dolphins paying $7MM of the $26.6MM Ramsey was owed this season, Rapoport reports the Steelers will be responsible for the remainder of that total. Pittsburgh will thus pay him $19.6MM in 2025.

Adding an unexpected layer to this blockbuster deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is 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. This represents the first time since 2002 there have been players with five or more Pro Bowl nods traded for one another (h/t Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports).

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 Slay in 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 Rodgers and D.K Metcalf were 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.

Steelers Acquire, Extend TE Jonnu Smith

June 30th, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Part of the Jalen Ramsey–Minkah Fitzpatrick blockbuster will see the Dolphins and Steelers agree to another swap. Tight end Jonnu Smith is headed to Pittsburgh.

With the dust having settled on all portions of this singular trade (which is now official), here are the full details (courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport):

Steelers receive:

Ramsey
Smith
2027 seventh-round pick

Dolphins receive:

Fitzpatrick
2027 fifth-round pick

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 Wilson and Justin Fields at 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 Freiermuth in 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.

Steelers Receiving T.J. Watt Trade Interest; Extension Remains Goal

June 30th, 2025 at 10:12pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Steelers’ willingness to trade one star defender could inspire attempts to acquire T.J. Watt amid his contract standoff with the team.

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.

“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. The Steelers should be able to get at least as much for Watt, even considering his contract demands, based on his age and the Hall of Fame-caliber resume he has compiled. But they seem to have little desire to hear such offers until and unless they have exhausted every possible path for an extension.

Load More Posts