Like most people who had their smartphones or computers in front of them as the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers swung a June 30 trade that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey (and tight end Jonnu Smith) to the Steel City and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back to South Beach, Jason McCourty’s reaction changed once the full details became known.
Because at first, the ESPN analyst assumed Ramsey would be fitting into a secondary that included Fitzpatrick. Then McCourty’s twin brother and former NFL teammate Devin texted him with the update that Fitzpatrick was the primary compensation returned to the Dolphins.
Which leaves the Steelers without a three-time All-Pro at free safety but an upgrade at cornerback – and some added flexibility when it comes to lining up against the high-powered offenses in the AFC North.
‘I love this addition for the Steelers, just because it adds a ton of versatility,’ Jason McCourty told USA TODAY Sports.
After Devin’s text update, Jason started to think about where Ramsey – who is receiving a $1.5 million raise and making $26.6 million total in 2025 – would line up for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Free safety is a possibility because of that patented aggressiveness and instincts, along with experience playing inside and outside cornerback.
But the Steelers are losing Fitzpatrick’s experience within the role as the center fielder of the defense and the communication that comes along with it.
‘I think those are big shoes to fill,’ McCourty said. ‘That’s why I’m so curious to see exactly where they see Ramsey to fit – because when you’re paying this much money, I don’t know if you’re going to just stick a guy like that at free safety. You typically want him covering the other team’s best wide receivers.
‘It says a lot about what (the Steelers) felt about Minkah Fitzpatrick. Because you make this trade and you give Jalen Ramsey a bit of a pay bump as well. So if (Ramsey) is playing free safety, that says a lot about it. But I am excited for the Steelers with this move.’
Steelers’ secondary has options after Jalen Ramsey trade
The Fitzpatrick-Ramsey trade was the most recent revamping of the Steelers’ secondary. The team signed cornerback Darius Slay and safety Juan Thornhill this offseason. Joey Porter Jr. is a starting outside corner, while Beanie Bishop Jr. had a nice rookie season in 2024 as the nickel corner.
Even though Slay, 34, and Ramsey, 30 ‘aren’t in the prime of their careers, both are still playing at a high level,’ said McCourty, who posted on social media about the trade and the replies immediately referenced the age of Ramsey and Slay.
‘You’re like, ‘These guys can’t play anymore’ but I think guys like Slay and Ramsey are still playing at a high level,’ he added.
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Multiple secondary lineups is why a guy like Ramsey can be a ‘chess piece’ for the Steelers’ coaching staff. Slay and Porter Jr. are more entrenched in their roles as sideline corners. Ramsey can be moved anywhere.
‘Now you have the opportunity to do so much with that secondary, especially when you have versatile pieces and guys who can play multiple roles,’ McCourty said.
What direction are Dolphins going?
Under general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins made it to the postseason in 2022 and 2023 but fell off late in those campaigns. The organization hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2000 season.
Now they’ve parted with Smith, who arguably had the best season of his career in 2024, and Ramsey, who leaves behind a largely unproven secondary (aside from Fitzpatrick).
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‘They don’t have a lot of guys who have been proven year after year that have had success in this league,’ McCourty said. ‘You look at the trade from their standpoint, and you’re like ‘What direction are they going in as a team?”
But Fitzpatrick is back in the fold – this time without a position change forced on him by the coaching staff as Brian Flores tried to in 2019, which precipitated his trade to the Steelers two games into that season.
‘It worked out for both parties, because Minkah went to Pittsburgh and became a monster,’ McCourty said.
Now the ‘monster’ is back in Miami.
