How Patrick Queen Responded To Steelers Trading Minkah Fitzpatrick

The Pittsburgh Steelers moved a three-time All-Pro defensive back to acquire another on Monday.

Pittsburgh made another huge offseason splash by landing Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins. They sent safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Miami for Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round draft selection.

Patrick Queen represented Pittsburgh’s star defensive upgrade last year when he left the Baltimore Ravens to join their division rivals. He and Fitzpatrick both made the Pro Bowl and started every game for a unit that allowed the eighth-fewest points per game (20.4) in 2024.

Queen reacted to Monday’s blockbuster trade on social media, posting photos of him and Fitzpatrick when saying goodbye to his short-lived teammate.

“Only got one year with ya 39, but your approach to be the best everyday was definitely contagious,” Queen wrote. “Best of luck back in Miami.”

Fitzpatrick began his Steelers tenure when the Dolphins shipped him to Pittsburgh in 2019. He’s since received four Pro Bowl and two All-Pro nods, tallying 516 tackles, 45 pass breakups and 18 interceptions in 88 regular-season games.

The former first-round pick rebounded from an injury-plagued 2023 to register 96 tackles last season. Fitzpatrick notched nine more in a first-round playoff loss to Baltimore.

The 28-year-old now returns to where his career started. Fitzpatrick played 18 games with the Dolphins, 16 as a rookie in 2018.

Meanwhile, the Steelers significantly rearranged their secondary by acquiring Ramsey. The seven-time Pro Bowler has collected multiple interceptions in each of the last four seasons and limited opponents to 6.5 yards per target as the primary defender in 2024.

Ramsey joins Joey Porter Jr., free-agent signing Darius Slay Jr. and the recently extended DeShon Elliott to anchor a secondary that allowed 228 passing yards per game last season. With Queen re-joining T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward in the front seven, the defense could give Aaron Rodgers enough support to pursue a deep playoff run.

More NFL: Steelers Execute Blockbuster Trade For Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey