"A Target": Steelers' All-Pro In Danger Of Being Cut If He Doesn't Prove Himself In 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not been shy when it comes to throwing money at pretty much their entire defense. Nearly every projected starter for 2026 who is not on a rookie contract is making some significant cash with the expectation that they will contribute. The front office, led by Omar Khan, has had the highest-paid defense for several years now, and the organization has yet to see the benefits of that when it comes to the postseason. At some point, this trend will change; but, as long as the franchise doesn't have a massive quarterback contract on the books, fans can expect it to continue.

The Steelers have seriously upgraded the backend of the defense throughout the 2026 offseason. The additions of Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker should help the efforts to stifle opponents' passing games, which will allow the front seven to get to signal-callers. There is some legitimate depth in the secondary for the first time in what feels like quite a while.

One benefit to this will be allowing veteran All-Pro Jalen Ramsey to roam around and wreak havoc. He will have the potential to line up outside, in the slot, or even at safety. Additionally, he could work the middle of the field and blitz if certain packages call for that. He has the chance to be the catalyst for Patrick Graham's unit throughout the 2026 campaign.

Ramsey could be facing a bit of a predicament, however. While he is under contract through 2028, none of the cash is guaranteed once the 2027 league year begins. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette analyst Christopher Carter has some concerns about what could lie ahead for the dynamic defender. If he doesn't prove himself sooner rather than later, he could be looking for a different team come the new year.

"If a 32-year-old Ramsey were to have a year when he produces efficiently in coverage, against the run and as a pass rusher, it would go a long way toward justifying his $19.5 million salary cap hit," Carter wrote. "If he doesn’t, his projected salary cap hits of $21.7 million in 2027 and $24 million in 2028 with no guaranteed money would make him a target for general manager Omar Khan in his search to save money."

It would make complete sense to move on from Ramsey if he didn't perform at an elite level in 2026. He will go down as one of the best of his generation, but Father Time catches up to everybody. With the Steelers signing plenty of players to extensions recently — with possibly still more to come — it wouldn't be crazy to move on from Ramsey to relieve cap space.

The Steelers will use Ramsey in a multitude of different ways, but that doesn't mean it will be successful. It is going to take a lot for Khan and co. to justify his upcoming cap hits. The fact that his release would lead to absolutely zero dead money can't go unnoticed. It comes even more into the equation if Joey Porter Jr. agrees to a contract extension that hogs up more of the financial burden.

As each week passes during the 2026 season, Ramsey's play will be put under a microscope. He could be one of the very first players released in 2027 if he performs poorly, unless another team is willing to trade for him, which would be unlikely given his age and contract.

Steelers Are In A Good Spot To Have Options With Ramsey

The good news for Pittsburgh is that the situation with the veteran is somewhat of a win-win. If he plays phenomenal football, he can hang around for another year and continue to build off of that. If, however, he isn't living up to his end of his contract, it will be relatively easy for the Steelers to part ways with him, opening up a big chunk of financial capital.

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