The Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers stole the spotlight from NBA free agency with a blockbuster deal on Monday that sent All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Steelers in exchange for All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpratick.
In this eye-popping deal, the two teams also swapped 2027 draft pick with the Dolphins receiving a fifth-round pick and the Steelers receiving a seventh-round pick. Although the Dolphins were able to free up some salary cap space and took care of a big need at safety in acquiring Fitzpatrick, it’s hard not to turn back the clock to the 2025 NFL Draft and look at cornerbacks the team passed up, particularly one who was there for the taking twice!
With the first two picks of the NFL Draft, the Dolphins did address big needs by selecting defensive tackle Kenneth Grant with the No. 13 overall pick and offensive guard Jonah Savaiinaea with the No. 37 overall pick. Again, big needs and players who should make an impact immediately, but in knowing Ramsey wasn’t going to wear a Dolphins’ uniform in 2025, cornerback was a big need and one player that comes to mind who they could’ve selected in the second round is Will Johnson.
Dolphins pass on Will Johnson twice in 2025 NFL Draft
Due to injury concerns, the Michigan product did slide in the draft. In going from a projected top 10 pick, Johnson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 47 overall pick in the draft. The Dolphins didn’t have another pick until the fifth round where they did select a project cornerback in Jason Marshall Jr., but should the Dolphins have rolled the dice with the No. 37 overall pick on Johnson who (when healthy) is a shutdown type corner?
If Johnson does have a tremendous rookie season with the Cardinals, the Dolphins could look back at this missed opportunity if the secondary does struggle in 2025. Even with Fitzpatrick, Miami will have to bank on Storm Duck, Kader Kohou and Marshall Jr. taking steps forward to solidify the cornerback position. The big hope here is Marshall Jr. who has already made positive first impressions with the team through minicamp and OTAs.
But is depending on a fifth-round pick to replace Ramsey a good position for the Dolphins? While that would still be a ton of pressure on a young talent like Johnson, at least the Dolphins would be leaning on a proven talent in college and not a player who may take some time to develop. There are some free agent corners out there like Asante Samuel Jr., Stephon Gilmore and Rasul Douglas who would all be nice fits in the Dolphins’ secondary, but passing on Johnson seems like a big oversight given the hole they now have at cornerback.
To conclude, the Ramsey trade may end up being a positive for the Dolphins. It’s always tough to tell how these kinds of trades will play out, but on paper a secondary led by Fitzpatrick and Will Johnson would be more appealing than the question marks they now have at the position. It could turn out the Dolphins will be looking at the 2026 NFL Draft class for a cornerback savior by midseason.
Some names to watch include Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, Clemson star Avieon Terrell and Texas’ Malik Muhammad.