Steelers Adding Jalen Ramsey Could Be The Final Piece To A Championship-Caliber Secondary: "He’s That Good"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a long offseason of making splash moves, and it seems that they might not be done just yet. The latest name to be linked to the Steelers is Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey is currently under contract until the 2029 season with Miami. He has not necessarily requested a trade, but Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier has publicly stated that they are mutually exploring trade options for the 30-year-old. While the Steelers' defense is already star-studded (and will likely be one of the top units in the NFL again this upcoming season), adding another star like Ramsey could be exactly what the Steelers need as they try to compete in a stacked AFC. Some Steelers insiders have already gone as far as to talk about how Ramsey would fit into the Steelers' defense, should a deal be reached soon.

The Steelers already have a pair of corners that any team would be more than comfortable taking into the regular season. Joey Porter Jr. is entering Year 3 with the team and is looking to build upon an up-and-down second season. The team brought in veteran corner Darius Slay to help Porter Jr. and sure up their secondary. 

Steelers writer Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined KDKA's Nightly Sports Call and gave his thoughts on how Ramsey would fit into the Steelers' defense alongside Pittsburgh's top corner duo. 

"I think with Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay in here, you know obviously, getting a player the caliber of Ramsey, even if he's not the All-Pro that he once was as you mentioned, you know he's going to be in the plan, now how would you alter your plan with those two guys, I don't know," said Batko. "Maybe Darius Slay becomes a sub package outside corner and you can move Ramsey into the nickel position in those instances. I mean he's just somebody who when he's right, when he's healthy, even at age 30 and now almost 31, you know he can pretty much help you anywhere around your defense. He’s that good."

This is perhaps the best idea we will get of how the Steelers' defense would look with Ramsey. Batko talks about how versatile Ramsey is, giving a team like the Steelers who already have a few starting caliber defensive backs flexibility on where they could potentially play him. Without affecting the development of Porter Jr. and allowing Slay to continue to play on the outside as he has for the majority of his career, this move continues to make more sense for Pittsburgh.

Now that we have some idea of how exactly Ramsey could potentially fit into the Steelers' defense, the question becomes what the price would be to acquire him. The reality is, it would not cost as much as you might think. Ramsey is on the north side of 30 years old and still has several years left on his current contract. Depending on how much of that Miami is willing to take on, it could cost as little as a future day-three pick to acquire the former three-time All-Pro. 

Steelers Prioritizing Veteran Presence In 2025

The Steelers have made one thing very clear with all of their moves throughout the 2025 offseason. They are looking for more veteran presence on their team. This could be for a number of reasons. It could be to support Aaron Rodgers in what is likely his first and only season with the team in hopes that he and other vets like DK Metcalf, who the team brought in via trade, can propel the franchise to their first playoff win in nearly a decade. 

Adding another veteran presence to this team would only further support the idea that the Steelers are gearing up for a playoff run in 2025. Ramsey added to a defense that already includes veterans like Minkah Fitzpatrick, TJ Watt, and Cam Heyward would certainly make both sides of the ball a formidable force.

Would you like to see the Steelers make a move for Ramsey? Let us know in the comments below!

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