Did the Pittsburgh Steelers make a massive mistake? The trade of star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith has been one of the biggest talking points of the offseason. While the jury is still out on whether the Steelers improved their team, the reasons behind this surprising move are more complex than they appear.
Former Steelers defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko believes the decision went far beyond a simple calculation of performance versus pay. Let's dive deeper.
The Steelers acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2019, trading a first-round pick for him. He quickly became a top-tier NFL defender, earning All-Pro honors and making game-changing plays. But here's where it gets controversial... Over the past few years, his splash plays and accolades diminished, yet his contract remained hefty. This led Pittsburgh to make a significant move.
In June, the Steelers traded Fitzpatrick and a fifth-round pick to the Dolphins in exchange for Ramsey and Smith. Ramsey has adapted well to the safety position, but he wasn't initially intended to play there full-time. Smith's contribution has been less impactful. Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick is having another solid season back in Miami.
But what exactly led to Fitzpatrick's departure? Fehoko pointed to a noteworthy incident in 2023. During a game, Fitzpatrick, who was injured and wearing a headset, voiced his disagreement with a defensive call made by Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin. Fehoko mentioned that head coach Mike Tomlin had to intervene to calm things down. He also noted that Tomlin
