When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded away three-time All-Pro defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick in exchange for fellow three-time All-Pro DB Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins, the plan was to use Ramsey as a hybrid inside/outside corner. After struggling to find Joey Porter Jr. suitable running mates over his first two seasons, Pittsburgh hoped the addition of Ramsey and veteran Darius Slay would shore things up.
That, uhhh...didn't happen, exactly. By the middle of the season, Ramsey had moved to safety, and Slay was just a few weeks away from being released due to injuries/ineffectiveness. The secondary never fully came together, and it played a big part in the Steelers' defense falling short of expectations in 2025.
With Patrick Graham taking over as the Steelers' new defensive coordinator under head coach Mike McCarthy, things have a chance to be different in 2026. For Ramsey, that reportedly means moving to the nickel or "Star" role full-time, which would be a first for the 11-year veteran. There is one glaring (and several smaller) issues with that, however: his massive price tag.
Jalen Ramsey's expected role with the Pittsburgh Steelers all but guarantees he will be overpaid in 2026
The nickel position has become increasingly valuable in the modern NFL. On top of passing games becoming more dynamic, teams have been using the threat of the pass to attack lighter defenses with the run game. Having a do-it-all slot defender who can cover effectively and hold up against the run is the best way for defenses to offset those advantages.
Ramsey, in theory, could be that for Pittsburgh this season. While he has certainly lost a step or two as a cover player, his size and physicality make him a great fit for the role. The problem for the Steelers is that he is still being paid like a top-flight outside cornerback, not a slot player or safety.
His $19.5 million cap hit in 2026 is seventh among all cornerbacks according to Over The Cap, but it's well above any other true slot corner's price tag. Even if Ramsey were to be the top nickel in the league this season, he would only barely be living up to his contract. Considering that the Steelers will have the league's most expensive defense for the fifth consecutive season in 2026, perhaps they don't care how much he is making if he can help them win.
It's hard to really disagree with that approach on the surface, but think about what that money could have been used on instead, especially if Ramsey does end up struggling in his age-32 season. Hopefully, Ramsey plays well enough that nobody even thinks about his bloated contract. If not, though, fans will have every right to question why the Steelers didn't move on after a lackluster 2025 from the aging defender.
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