Monday brought one of the biggest trades in modern NFL history, the Pittsburgh Steelers sending FS Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins for CB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith, and an exchange of 2027 Day Three draft picks. The dust still has plenty of time to settle and the winning and losing sides of this deal will be examined throughout the season. Who are the Steelers’ internal winners and losers, players on the roster benefitting the most from the flurry of moves?
Let’s break it down.
WINNERS
QB Aaron Rodgers/OC Arthur Smith
Easy choices here. Rodgers lands another target in TE Jonnu Smith, who the team will view as an offensive weapon and pass-catcher more than just a tight end. Smith reunites with one of his favorite players of his NFL tenure, someone drafted in Tennessee when Smith served as tight ends coach and later offensive coordinator, and then brought to Atlanta when he worked as the Falcons’ head coach.
Pittsburgh ran the second-most 13 personnel last year but were ineffective in results. With Smith, they get a lot stronger and have arguably the best NFL trio in football.
S Juan Thornhill
How Pittsburgh plans to replace Fitzpatrick isn’t fully clear. But Thornhill figures to be in that conversation and at the least, could see an increase in sub-package snaps. Signed to a one-year deal after two unsuccessful seasons in Pittsburgh, he could work in “big nickel” packages in addition to possibly seeing snaps at free safety. The Steelers adding someone like Justin Simmons could change Thornhill’s standing but it’s hard to see how Fitzpatrick’s departure hurts Thornhill’s opportunities.
It makes him one of the Steelers’ winners.
Losers
TE Connor Heyward
Something we noted weeks ago when the Jonnu Smith trade rumors began. With three tight ends firmly planted on the roster, Heyward is feeling the squeeze. Pittsburgh could roster four tight ends, something they did a year ago, but Heyward is now in a direct fight for one roster spot.
Should someone like UDFA fullback DJ Thomas-Jones impress as a lead blocker while showing some capacity on special teams, Heyward could get bumped off the team. Even if he sticks, he looks like a special teamer with little-to-no offensive value. He had a hard time fitting in the offense a season ago, catching just six passes.
CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
From clear starter to backup in a New York minute. Determining roles for Ramsey and the rest of the Steelers’ cornerbacks will take time but Bishop no longer is the No. 1 slot corner. Ramsey can play nickel and Pittsburgh has an established top-three alongside Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. If Ramsey or Slay dabble at safety, Bishop could see reps, but he’s clearly not ticketed for an every down sub-package role like he was before this trade.
