Jets fans can only laugh at Dolphins' latest trade after Jalen Ramsey deal

One of the NY Jets' chief rivals in the Miami Dolphins were already heading into 2025 as thin as any team in the league at the cornerback and tight end positions, and things only managed to get worse when Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith were traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Trading Smith gave the Dolphins arguably the worst tight end room in years, as the competition between Pharoah Brown and Julian Hill wouldn't have looked out of place on the San Antonio Brahmas. Miami chose to rectify this issue in the worst way possible.

The Dolphins convinced tight end Darren Waller to come out of retirement, trading a late-round draft pick to the New York Giants for his rights and inking a one-year contract with the former Pro Bowler. Rather than look at names like Cole Kmet, Michael Mayer, or even Jeremy Ruckert, Miami went for someone who wasn't even playing.

The Jets and their fans should feel justifying in laughing at their rival, as anyone who thinks this plan could work should have their roster construction skills severely questioned.

Jets fans can laugh at Dolphins after replacing Jonnu Smith with Darren Waller

Waller's peak came during the 2019 and 2020 seasons under Jon Gruden with the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders, as he tallied consecutive seasons of 1,100 yards receiving. Since then, injuries and plain old age have started to gradually sap Waller of his athletic ability.

Waller, who said in the past that he decided to retire when he was being asked to block more than he had in past seasons, recorded 52 catches for 552 yards and one touchdown in his final season with the New York Giants. Any thought that he could equal the 88 catches and 880 yards Smith had last year is asinine.

This may have been a move based on old connections, as Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith was once Kelsey Plum's ex-husband's tight end coach during his prime Raiders days. It might take a bit for Miami to realize that the player they thought they were acquiring is likely not going to make the trip over to South Beach.

The Waller trade is what happens when a desperate team is forced to do something that no one else in the league would even give the time of day. The Jets rarely get to laugh at their division rivals, but they've earned a hearty chuckle after this move.