The quiet feel of the NFL offseason came to a crashing close for at least a couple of days, via the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.
To close out June, the two AFC squads made a trade that sent safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back to the Dolphins, while CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith joined the Steelers. Late-round draft compensation was also involved in the deal. It was a mega-deal that nobody expected to happen on Monday morning.
That being said, it came fruition, and social media erupted, including a comical post from Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
In a post on X/Twitter, Hill posted a popular gif in relation to the news. He clearly feels like the Dolphins are moving on from multiple notable veterans, leaving him as one of the few who remain on the roster as of now.
https://t.co/maYsSDLBGo pic.twitter.com/I1NgGr3D73
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) June 30, 2025
This reaction from the former Pro Bowler also may point to a possibility that he could get moved, too. A youth movement for Miami could be coming, and trading Hill would certainly garner plenty of draft compensation and potentially a player as well.
As of now, that's just a topic of discussion around the NFL world, though.
Former Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert made his feelings clear on how the organization has recently treated some players.
Hot take: Be a Pro-bowler on the Dolphins, get treated like sh*t. Happy for my guys though! GO BALL OUT! - Former Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert
Hot take: Be a Pro-bowler on the Dolphins, get treated like sh*t. Happy for my guys though! GO BALL OUT!! https://t.co/RyDBVE8h1i
— Raheem Mostert (@RMos_8Ball) June 30, 2025
There were plenty of reports regarding Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey when it came to potential trades this offseason. The Steelers were consistently mentioned as a possible landing spot, and they ultimately grabbed both players to try to improve on both sides of the football.
Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick heads back to the Dolphins who drafted him out of college.
But this move, from the Dolphins' perspective, is rooted in the long game. There have been lots of assumptions about what Miami will and won't be in 2025 after a disappointing 2024. But every move the Dolphins have made this offseason has been rooted in one thing — aligning this organization for the next competitive window. This trade makes the most sense for the Dolphins by what it means for the next team-building cycle that they are going to undertake, not for the instant gratification of what it brings for 2025.
Are the Dolphins trying to win in 2025? Of course they are. But they're not just playing a desperate game for 2025, either. They're playing chess in a way that allows them to line up their assets for the next big cycle of team building. It's a gamble for names like general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel because they do need the team to perform at a high level to take the pressure off after their 8-9 showing in 2024.
For Miami, it is tough to have a ton of faith in their current tight end room. There's a lack of experience and upside there, so a potential trade or signing feels likely. Meanwhile at CB, Ramsey was the clear top option at that spot, so relying on some younger players on the outside could bite them in the rear during the regular season.
Regardless, it's clear that this deal was quite an offseason game changer for the AFC and fans of a plethora of teams - alike.
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