What a wild ride it’s been for Steelers fans this offseason. Just when you thought Omar Khan might take a breather, he drops a bombshell that left everyone’s jaws on the floor. Pittsburgh just shipped their All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back to the Miami Dolphins. Yeah, you read that right. The same Minkah who’s been the backbone of their secondary since 2019. In essence the Steelers traded a 1st round pick in 2019, turned him into an All-Pro and now an exchange of two players who are on the backend of their respective primes.
Khan didn’t just give him away for nothing, though. The Steelers snagged cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith in return. Adding an additional passcatcher for Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme. Still, this move has everyone scratching their heads. Fitzpatrick started 88 games for Pittsburgh and was part of the primary core they built kind of their defense around. This represents a massive gamble for Khan, trading away a fan favorite Minkah has been. The pressure is mounting with training camp starting July 24 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. Khan has shown he’s not afraid to shake things up, so don’t expect him to sit on his hands. As fans are waiting for a TJ Watt extension, many might not know what is next in terms of the overall roster, and the Free Saftey position.
The #Steelers could be in the market for a safety after trading three-time All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick to the #Dolphins.
— Steelers Update (@SteelersUpdate1) June 30, 2025
These six free agents are the best remaining on the open market. Who would you want Pittsburgh to sign? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/cOACHJMvAi
After the trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick and the acquisitions of both Jalen Ramsey (w/raise) and Jonnu Smith, the #Steelers currently sits with $23,753,802 in cap space, per sportrac. pic.twitter.com/xUsuEPfbw5
— Steelers Black and Gold Nation - Off-season (@B_GNation1) June 30, 2025
Internal Options Already on the Roster
Before Khan starts picking up to phone to see who is available in a trade or around in free agency, it is worth viewing what Pittsburgh already has in house. Three players could potentially be asked to start for the Steelers Week 1 and each brings something a little different to the table.
Juan Thornhill
Thornhill might be the most obvious answer to this puzzle. The Steelers brought him in this offseason on a one-year, $3 million contract, and his resume speaks for itself – 87 games with 74 starts over six NFL seasons. The guy has racked up 335 career tackles and eight interceptions throughout his career.
Here’s what notable about Thornhill : Two Super Bowl rings with Kansas City (LIV and LVII). The numbers from Pro Football Focus tell the whole story. Thornhill has logged 3,419 career snaps at free safety, plus 909 snaps at box safety and 707 in the slot. That’s the kind of flexibility that lets you disguise coverages without telegraphing your intentions. Bottom line: Thornhill looks like the immediate starter after the Fitzpatrick trade. His ball-hawking instincts mirror early-career Minkah with eight picks in his first four seasons. Sometimes the best solution is the most obvious one.
Sebastian Castro
Castro faces an uphill battle as an undrafted rookie from Iowa. Fourth on the depth chart behind DeShon Elliott, Thornhill, and Miles Killebrew, he’s got his work cut out for him. But all reports are stating that his previous coaches love his motor. His former teammate Yahya Black nailed it: “He don’t talk much… But you tell him to go get it, he’s gonna go get it”. That’s exactly what you want to hear about a guy trying to make it as an undrafted free agent. The “cash” position Castro played at Iowa is intriguing. NFL guys like Amani Hooker and Cooper DeJean filled similar roles. His best shot at making the roster? Dominating special teams.
Jalen Ramsey: Should he shift to safety?
Now here’s where things get creative. Ramsey has already played 137 defensive snaps at free safety during his career. At 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds, he’s got the perfect build for the position.
Check out his 2024 snap distribution:
- 728 snaps at outside cornerback
- 185 snaps in the slot
- Various safety alignments
Think about the chess match this creates. Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay holding down the corners while Ramsey roams the back end? That’s three elite defensive backs on the field simultaneously. His 24 career interceptions prove he can find the football. Miami sent Ramsey on 25 blitzes last season – one sack, four hurries, and three pass deflections. Mike Tomlin’s defense loves those kinds of versatile weapons. Ramsey could be the ultimate utility player in the secondary.
The Free Agent Market
Free agency isn’t over yet, and that’s exactly what the Steelers need right now. Several quality safeties are still floating around out there, waiting for the right team to make a call. Some of these guys could walk right in and make an immediate impact, at a fraction of the price.
Justin Simmons
We already touched on Simmons, but let’s be real – he’s the best available option by a mile. The 31-year-old put up 62 tackles and two interceptions for Atlanta last season, and his veteran leadership was noticeable throughout 2024. This is a guy with four All-Pro selections on his resume. If you ask me, it’s shocking he’s still unsigned. His experience would be pure gold for Pittsburgh’s revamped secondary.
Julian Blackmon
Here’s a player who deserves way more respect. Blackmon is only 26 and played through a torn rotator cuff that he suffered in Week 1. The guy still managed to rack up 86 tackles and three interceptions in 2024. That’s the kind of toughness Mike Tomlin loves. Plus, he’s got seven picks over his last two seasons and can play both strong and free safety. Sometimes the best value comes from players others overlook.
Marcus Williams
Williams knows this division inside and out after his time in Baltimore. Yeah, injuries have slowed him down recently, and Baltimore benched him after nine starts in 2024. But the man still has elite ball skills, and at 28, he’s got plenty left in the tank. His jump-ball ability could be exactly what Pittsburgh’s defense needs. Sometimes a change of scenery works wonders.
Jordan Whitehead
Talk about a perfect fit – Whitehead grew up in Aliquippa and starred at Central Valley High School before heading to Pitt. The local connection runs deep with this one. Currently 28, he brings that physical style and versatility that defensive coordinators dream about. Hometown kids often play with extra motivation, and Pittsburgh fans would absolutely love this signing.
Camryn Bynum
Don’t sleep on Bynum. The guy started all 17 games in each of the past three seasons – that’s the kind of durability you can’t teach. He recorded 10 passes defensed and three interceptions in 2024, and here’s the kicker: he hasn’t missed a single game in three years. When you’re trying to replace someone as reliable as Fitzpatrick, availability matters just as much as ability.
Quandre Diggs
Diggs brings Pro Bowl pedigree to any locker room. Three straight Pro Bowl selections from 2020-2022 tells you everything about his peak performance. Career numbers of 24 interceptions and 56 passes defended show he knows how to make plays. Multiple teams have made him captain, which speaks to his leadership qualities. At 31, he’s got the wisdom to help younger players develop.
Tre’von Moehrig
I bet most fans don’t realize how good Moehrig was last season. The 25-year-old posted career highs with 104 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 2024. Missing just two games in four seasons proves he can stay healthy. Multiple NFL analysts are calling him one of the most undervalued safeties available. Sometimes the best signings are the ones nobody sees coming.
Jordan Poyer
Poyer’s been around the block and knows what it takes to win. His Buffalo days showed championship-level play, and even at 34, he put up 98 tackles in 16 starts for Miami last season. His ball skills and leadership have been consistent throughout his career. The bonus? He knows the AFC inside and out, which would make his transition to Pittsburgh seamless.
Blockbuster trade between the @steelers and @miamidolphins 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NTNP4l0lO2
— NFL (@NFL) June 30, 2025
The #Steelers moves come across to some like they’re all-in, but have they really mortgaged the future?
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) June 30, 2025
But for their older additions of Rodgers, Metcalf, Slay, Ramsey & Smith, they’ve lost:
A 2025 2nd, Fitzpatrick & a 2027 5th.
2026 draft QB trade up very much still in play.
Evaluating the Best Fit for the Steelers
Finding Minkah’s replacement isn’t as simple as grabbing the biggest name available. Pittsburgh needs to think this through strategically if they want their defense to keep humming after such a major shakeup.
Scheme compatibility with Mike Tomlin’s defense
Mike Tomlin’s defensive philosophy isn’t rocket science, but it demands smart players. His system requires high football IQ guys who can execute complex coverage rotations. These post-snap movements mess with quarterbacks’ heads.
Tomlin loves his disguised coverages from two-high safety looks. Watch any Steelers game and you’ll see the defense rotating into Cover 3 “sky” formations after showing completely different pre-snap alignments. This demands safeties with excellent communication skills and spatial awareness.
Pittsburgh ranked top-six in pass defense metrics during 2019-2020, but maintaining those standards requires finding someone who gets the system’s intricacies. Money talks, especially in Pittsburgh. The Steelers previously made Fitzpatrick the NFL’s highest-paid safety with a four-year, $72.99 million contract. That set a pretty high bar in terms of Steelers pass defense hope. Now, Pittsburgh will have to find cost-effective solutions without major performance dropoff.
Don’t sleep on the trade market. Omar Khan has shown he’s willing to make bold moves throughout his tenure.
The Steelers previously built their defense by acquiring Fitzpatrick from Miami in 2019. This blueprint could guide their current strategy. Finding a young safety still on their rookie contract would provide both performance and financial flexibility. Multiple teams with safety depth might become trade partners before training camp opens. Pittsburgh’s path forward likely combines internal options with selective external additions. Their aggressive offseason moves indicate more transactions remain possible before the start of Training Camp
How the Trade Changed Everything
Khan’s fingerprints are all over this roster, and if you’ve been paying attention, there’s a clear playbook here. The guy doesn’t mess around when he sees something he wants. Look at how the past few offseasons have unfolded – multiple QB changes, free-agent signings, and now the Fitzpatrick-Ramsey swap. Not a typical Steelers offseason
The Fitzpatrick deal flipped the script entirely. What started as maybe addressing depth became an urgent need to find a starter. Suddenly, free safety shot to the top of the priority list, and that changes how you evaluate every option.
Getting Ramsey strengthens one area but creates imbalance elsewhere. The Steelers need someone who complements their revamped cornerback group without disrupting the defensive philosophy. Khan’s personnel department had to pivot hard. Draft preparation that focused on cornerback depth now includes intensive safety evaluation. That kind of rapid adjustment shows you just how fast things in the NFL change.
Khan’s Next Move
Here’s the bottom line – Omar Khan has painted himself into a corner that only bold action can get him out of. Trading away Minkah wasn’t just moving a chess piece; it was gambling the entire defensive foundation on his ability to find lightning in a bottle again. Juan Thornhill looks like the number one option on the depth chart as of today. The guy’s got championship rings and knows how to operate in big moments.
But let’s be honest, he’s not Minkah. Sebastian Castro might surprise everyone, though asking an undrafted rookie to fill those shoes is an unfeasible ask. Then there’s the wild card – sliding Ramsey back to safety. Another creative way to manufacture matchup nightmares while keeping his best defenders on the field. The free agent market offers some interesting names. But Pittsburgh’s defense has enough talent scattered across the roster to weather this storm if they find the right replacement. The clock’s ticking with July 24 approaching fast. Khan has shown he’s not afraid to make waves, and something tells me we haven’t seen his final move yet. Steelers fans better buckle up – this offseason isn’t over.
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