The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the headlines a ton since before the 2026 season even began. A lot of that attention had to do with the fact that the franchise had a new coaching staff for the first time in nearly two decades, but there was also some drama going on behind the scenes that led to narratives being created. Former cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers could not come to an agreement on an extension, and that dispute carried into the regular season. Porter sat out with a back injury, and he was eventually traded to the Dallas Cowboys, and now the Steelers may have a chance to make another trade.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands on the field surface and looks off into the distance as the team participates in a 2026 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers received a 2028 second-round pick and a conditional 2027 sixth in the deal, which isn't a bad haul, but fans definitely wanted more if it meant getting rid of a lockdown cornerback. Ideally the organization would have found a way to keep him as cornerback is a premier position in the NFL, but the two sides couldn't figure anything out. One player that helped Porter through the process was defensive back Jalen Ramsey, who went through something similar before during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ramsey did the same thing back then as Porter did now. It was a back injury, and then he was traded a few games into the season. Ramsey may see himself being traded again as teams could come calling on the Steelers for secondary help. Jeremy Fowler discussed this in a recent article for ESPN.
"The Lions should make a move for a cornerback. They were in on Joey Porter Jr. before Pittsburgh traded him to Dallas," Fowler wrote. "One potential option is Kansas City's Kristian Fulton, who is in and out of the Chiefs' lineup. He is owed real money -- $5 million of his $9.75 million base salary is guaranteed -- but perhaps the Chiefs and Lions could split the bill to facilitate a deal. Is it worth calling Pittsburgh for Jalen Ramsey? Not sure he's available, but the Lions' defense seems far from settled."
Fowler floats out the idea of the Detroit Lions reaching out to the Steelers to check on the availability of Ramsey. There is no doubt that the Lions need secondary help, and Ramsey is a player that the Steelers should be open to moving on from. His contract isn't great, and it is fair to assume that he could even be a cap casualty during the 2027 offseason.
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Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jalen Ramsey watches the action at Acrisure Stadium during a 2026 preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Lions were in the mix for Porter, but the Cowboys eventually came through with the best deal. It is fair to assume that the compensation for Ramsey wouldn't be anything more than maybe a fourth round selection due to his contract and age. The Lions could certainly use a player like Ramsey on their defense, and there are other teams around the league that could use help in the secondary as well. The New York Giants were sniffing around Porter, and the Chicago Bears also need some secondary help.
Steelers' Jalen Ramsey May Want To Go Elsewhere
The Steelers traded for Ramsey during the 2025 offseason, and based off of some of his comments after he arrived, a big reason he wanted to come to Pittsburgh was former head coach Mike Tomlin. He is no longer in the building, and Ramsey probably would be very open to the idea of going to a team that might be considered a legitimate contender. That could be a team like the Bears, and it also could be the Lions. Detroit certainly has the offense to compete, and with an addition like Ramsey and Brian Branch returning from injury soon, that group could be dangerous.
What do you think about potentially moving on from Ramsey during the 2026 season? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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