The Dolphins are interested in acquiring a tight end after sending Jonnu Smith to the Steelers on Monday morning.
I wouldn’t call it a blockbuster trade, more like an Indie film trade. Nonetheless, the Miami Dolphins sent three-time All-Pro Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick on Monday morning. Tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 7th-round pick also went to Pittsburgh, while Miami received a 2027 5th-round pick.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Dolphins are in conversations with “multiple teams” about acquiring a tight end after parting ways with Smith.
The wheels started spinning about who those teams could be, or who would be willing to send a tight end away. We can rule out the San Francisco 49ers. A month ago, they extended George Kittle, making him once again the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. Luke Farrell was a free agent this past offseason. Miami had the opportunity to sign him already. We can lump the Arizona Cardinals and Trey McBride in the same boat.
The same isn’t true for the Los Angeles Rams, who just drafted Terrance Ferguson in the second round out of Oregon. Tyler Higbee has one year remaining on his deal, making him an obvious trade candidate for the Dolphins. If Sean McVay feels like Ferguson is ready to contribute right away, he could rely on the rookie from Day 1.
The Seattle Seahawks also drafted Elijah Arroyo in the second round and AJ Barner in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, making Noah Fant expendable. Like Higbee, Fant is in the final year of his contract.
These teams opted to get younger at tight end this offseason. Miami needing a veteran tight end at the last minute makes it easy to connect the dots to the NFC West. Outside of the division, Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons could impact the NFC.
The 49ers don’t play the Steelers or the Dolphins this season, but this Ramsey-Fitzpatrick trade could wind up hurting an NFC West team’s depth in 2025 if Miami comes calling for a tight end.