NFL Exec Has Pessimistic Take After Steelers Trade For Jalen Ramsey

The Steelers acquiring Jalen Ramsey from the Dolphins has garnered mostly positive feedback, but not unanimous praise.

FOX Sports’ Eric Williams spoke to an unnamed NFL general manager after Pittsburgh acquired Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick with a late-round pick swap also benefiting Miami.

The NFL GM compared the trade to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, Williams wrote.

“Ramsey at safety is intriguing to me, but not at that money,” the GM told Williams. “He is still a starting corner but again, his performance will not equal his pay.”

Ramsey signed a three-year, $72.3 million extension with the Dolphins in Sept. 2024. He reportedly will receive a $1.5 million raise in Pittsburgh, which will bring his 2025-26 salary to $26.6 million.

Only cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Jaycee Horn earn an average annual value of $25 million or more. And no safety in the league earns more than $21.5 million annually.

“(Minkah) Fitzpatrick is a better safety — younger, cheaper and less drama,” the GM added. “I give Miami kudos for rectifying a mistake contract extension from a year ago.” 

The 30-year-old Ramsey played 27 games over the last two seasons in Miami.

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