The original title of today’s “Let’s talk Steelers” was “Grading the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade” — but that felt impossible.

It’s not that Fitzpatrick, now back on the Dolphins, or Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey, now on the Steelers, aren’t already proven NFL players. But so much depends on how the players involved in the trade are used by their new teams. And, how the Steelers and Dolphins — two teams on the verge of building a contender over the past few years — finish their 2025 seasons.

A B- grade? That felt too optimistic for the Steelers. C+? That felt too negative. C++? That’s a programming language. Oh well. Time to change to a better question:

How can the Steelers win the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade… again?

When Pittsburgh initially traded for Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins in 2019, it was a polarizing move. However, it didn’t take long for the Steelers to emerge as the convincing winners of the deal.

With the team trading Fitzpatrick back to the Dolphins on Monday, what do you think needs to happen for the Steelers to come out on top once again?

For one, it doesn’t have much to do with how Fitzpatrick plays in Miami. Sure, if his play declines the Steelers automatically look smart for dealing him when they did. But it’ll still take good play from Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to justify trading a longtime cornerstone of the defense for two players in or months away from their 30s.

Obviously, if Smith and Ramsey contribute to a team that ends the Steelers’ playoff win drought, Pittsburgh’s choice to make the trade looks pretty smart.

And to push the eventual grade into “A” territory, at least one of the players would need to look like a long-term answer of sorts for Pittsburgh. Maybe Ramsey seamlessly transitions into a high-end safety/slot defender. Maybe Smith shows that his Pro Bowl 2024 wasn’t a fluke. Maybe both.

To “win” the trade, the Steelers need to get a return that both helps their current “win now” approach while also setting the stage for future success. It’s possible, but the trade wasn’t a slam-dunk fleecing for either side.

What would you grade the Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick trade? Or how can it become an A+? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments.