Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Receives Strong Praise From Former Super Bowl Champion: "He Definitely Could Have Played With Us"

The Pittsburgh Steelers went "all in" in the 2025 offseason. They loaded up the roster, whether it was from free agency, or trades. In FA, the Steelers signed cornerbacks Darius Slay and Brandin Echols to bolster their secondary. While Slay didn't work out, Echols looks like he could be with the Black and Gold for the foreseeable future. However, the big move in the secondary was right before training camp. The Steelers sent over safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a fifth-round pick, in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a seventh-round pick from the Miami Dolphins. 

Ramsey started the season playing both slot and outside corner. However, due to injuries and roster decisions, the Steelers moved the three-time All-Pro to free safety full-time. This move has seemed to pay off for Pittsburgh drastically. The switch to safety could prolong Ramsey's career for a few more seasons and extend his Steelers tenure beyond 2025. Ramsey has posted one interception, 70 total tackles, three sacks (most among safeties in 2025), and five pass breakups per Pro Football Focus. 

In an interview on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, former Steelers cornerback and Super Bowl champion, Ike Taylor gave high praise to Ramsey. He said the old line every current Steelers player would want to hear. 

"He definitely could have played with us," Taylor said. "Me and Ram probably would have been fighting everybody. I always did like Ram from Florida State, I always liked that dude. Now he's here. I see him in person, I saw him in training camp. I was like, that dude could have played with us... He has a Steeler mentality."

Those are strong words from Taylor. Afterall, he played on some of the best defenses in Steelers history. Ramsey came to the Steelers as a Super Bowl champion and had three First Team All-Pro selections as mentioned. They were hoping to have a shutdown corner now, but found something else instead. A solid free safety who, while still learning the position, has given the Steelers stability on the back end. 

While Ramsey hasn't been perfect at free safety (a position he has to learn on the fly), he has opened up other opportunities for the likes of Echols and James Pierre. Pierre is a free agent at season's end and likely priced himself out of town. Echols signed a two-year deal this past offseason and will likely be offered an extension at the end of the 2025 season.

Should Steelers Expand Ramsey's Future Beyond 2025?

Ramsey certainly has not wowed anyone this season with his play by looking at the stat sheet. He will likely not get any Pro Bowl nods or All-Pro votes. However, Ramsey has been a solid, reliable piece in the secondary, making his life and the cornerbacks' lives easier in Pittsburgh.

Ramsey has a $26.6M cap hit for this season. That's more than Fitzpatrick, whom they traded away for not receiving enough production the last few years. 

The Steelers have asked a lot more from Ramsey than Fitzpatrick. While Ramsey is a full-time safety, he would have to move back to corner if there were injuries. That's a tough ask for a guy to play almost every position in the secondary minus strong safety, but newly acquired Kyle Dugger has been rock solid in that spot. All signs point to Ramsey coming back to the Steel City.

What do you think? Will Ramsey remain a Steeler after the 2025 season? Is Ike Taylor right about Ramsey? Let us know in the comments below. 

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