The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly had talks with the Miami Dolphins about star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. This comes after trade rumors and speculation suggested Pittsburgh could be Ramsey's ultimate landing spot. While NFL Insider Adam Schefter fully expects Ramsey to be traded before training camps begin, it doesn't look like the Steelers will be on the receiving end.
“I think Pittsburgh checked in,” Schefter said on Tuesday in an appearance on ESPN Radio. “If I had to guess, I would say Pittsburgh would not be the likely destination.”
This is going to disgruntle much of the Steelers fanbase, hoping for another splash or two before Steelers training camp kicks off in late July. Ramsey is one of the biggest names on the trade block around the league, and adding the perennial Pro Bowler to their defense would have given Pittsburgh phenomenal depth and security in the secondary.
This report from Schefter comes after the Steelers missed out on signing free agent cornerback Jaire Alexander. The former Green Bay Packers Pro Bowler dealt with injuries in three of the past four seasons, but signed a team-friendly deal with the Baltimore Ravens in June.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must bolster their roster through trades before training camp
Meanwhile, Ramsey stated that he would like to play for a West Coast team, which rules out the Steelers, in theory. However, you may recall DK Metcalf saying something similar before being traded to a team in the Northeast United States, like the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Even if trade talks have stalled with the Miami Dolphins for Ramsey, the Steelers' front office shouldn't give up in their pursuit of adding talent to their roster. The last thing Pittsburgh can afford to do is show contentment in the squad they currently have.
We talk often about how the NFL is all about windows—you either need to build for the future or try to win now. There's no having your feet in both doorways.
As soon as the Steelers signed a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, we knew exactly which direction they intended to go, whether we agree with it or not. Along with an aging Rodgers, Cam Heyward is 36 years old, and T.J. Watt turns 31 early in the 2025 season. This means that the three most important players on the team are all aging out of the league quickly, and the time to pounce is now.
Are the Steelers just one Jalen Ramsey-level trade away from having an elite defense? Potentially. Pittsburgh drafted Derrick Harmon to shore up the defensive line, but there's a concerning hole at slot cornerback. Ramsey showcased excellent play from the slot last year and has the versatility to line up anywhere.
On offense, the Steelers should be looking to add another weapon in the passing game, both for depth and to maximize the potential of this Aaron Rodgers-led attack.
Don't get discouraged just because it looks like this Jalen Ramsey trade is starting to fall through. You can bet Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers are leaving no stone unturned to look for ways to improve the roster ahead of training camp, and something is bound to happen.