Commanders’ 2025 opponent surprises NFL with bold offseason roster shakeup

The Washington Commanders’ Week 11 opponent made major surprise moves, shaking up its roster with two unexpected trades during the NFL's quiet stretch.

Sep 8, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) runs onto the field before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Washington Commanders have been quiet since wrapping up mandatory minicamp last month, but their future opponents experienced a bit of a shake-up early this week.

In a pair of trades, the Commanders' Week 11 opponent transformed its roster by swapping out one defensive back and tight end for a different player in each group.

Here's how different the Miami Dolphins will look when Washington visits them in Spain, thanks to these deals.

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Former Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5). | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Trade No. 1: Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers

In the first trade of the week executed by the Dolphins the team closed its chapter with Ramsey by sending him to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Goind with Ramsey from Miami is tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round NFL Draft pick.

Because of the trade, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is headed back to the Dolphins where he started his NFL career along with a 2027 fifth-round pick from the Steelers.

Fitzpatrick was listed among the winners in this trade as he gets the opportunity to return to Miami and potentially earn a fat extension if he can produce under defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

Former New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12). | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Trade No. 2: Darren Waller Unretiring in Florida

Typically, folks move to Florida to retire. In the case of tight end Darren Waller, he's moving south to unretire.

In this trade, the New York Giants are sending Waller, who last played in 12 games for the team in 2023, along with a conditional 2027 seventh-round NFL Draft pick to the Dolphins. In return, the Giants are getting a 2026 sixth-round pick in the NFL Draft.

Waller is 32 and retired last offseason and has earned one trip to the Pro Bowl in his eight NFL seasons thus far.

While Waller would not have likely unretired to play for the Giants, he will now be playing for Miami when Washington heads overseas this November.

How the moves will impact the Dolphins this season is still to be determined, obviously, and fortunately for head coach Dan Quinn and his Commanders, they'll have about 10 weeks of film to study on the new pieces before having to deal with them.

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READ MORE: Commanders' dramatic Eagles win still fueling heated 2025 rivalry

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