Steelers Are Definitely Not Finished Re-Tooling The Secondary For 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuing the trend they had in the 2025 offseason. They are loading up the roster with big moves at cornerback and wide receiver. Though this time, it's a little different. The team brought in Michael Pittman Jr. and Jamel Dean to bolster each side of the ball. Both players are still very much in the prime of their careers. Now the Steelers have breathing room at wide receiver, and the cornerback room has been solidified. The secondary still has a major weakness however, and that's the safety room. In 2025, the Steelers were forced to move Jalen Ramsey to free safety. This move started well, but appeared to get worse as the season went on. 

Ramsey has the versatility to play anywhere on the field, which played a major factor in his greatness when he was in his prime. The Steelers tried this out as they had him all over the field at inside cornerback, outside cornerback, and safety as mentioned. Ramsey played his best at the slot corner spot when he was closest to the line of scrimmage. On the outside, it was clear Ramsey wasn't able to run with the opponent's number one receivers like he used to. Ramsey had never really played safety before and he was learning a new position on the fly. The move initially paid off as the defense shut down the NFL's number one offense at the time in the Indianapolis Colts, but by the Wild Card Round in the playoffs, Ramsey seemed like more of a liability. 

Steelers Insider Mark Kaboly appeared on his show, Kaboly + Mack recently, where he and his co-host talked about the Steelers and their exciting start to free agency in 2026. Kaboly mentioned the Dean signing being huge, but he still questions the slot corner and safety positions. He thinks that a move at safety is possible in the coming days. 

"Maybe safety is in the cards coming up here," Kaboly explained. 

He mentioned the possibility of Ramsey having a year of experience under his belt and being more comfortable, but feels that Ramsey is more suited as the rover, playing all positions. 

"I like him being the rover all around. Play the slot, play the outside, play some of that hybrid linebacker," said Kaboly. "I think that's where he's the best at."

The Steelers have a new defensive system under Patrick Graham, the defensive coordinator. Graham is known for adapting his scheme to his personnel. Perhaps an addition at safety and Ramsey moving back to the rover could make all the difference. Ramsey will do what he does best: play where the defense is weak. The Steelers have the outside corners, so Ramsey should primarily play slot corner and sub linebacker. He was an effective run stopper and a solid blitzer in 2025.

There are two safeties the Steelers should keep in mind the rest of free agency: Jaylinn Hawkins and Jaquan Brisker. Brisker is a Pittsburgh native and he was also a Penn State Nittany Lion. He has played both free and strong safety for the Chicago Bears and has been a solid piece of their secondary. Hawkins, on the other hand, was a true free safety, helping the New England Patriots boast one of the NFL's best defenses last season. Hawkins would be a major upgrade for the Steelers' secondary.

Steelers Should Add Hawkins, Keep Ramsey In Slot

In 2025, Hawkins tallied four interceptions and allowed a passer rating of 73.7. He was an elite coverage safety and the Steelers should surely use that skill set. With an elite coverage safety paired with DeShon Elliott, who will return from injury, the Steelers could easily have the best secondary in the NFL. 

Ramsey will be able to play at the line of scrimmage and worry less about the deep ball.

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