Expect a lot of change in Pittsburgh this offseason. From coaching staff to roster, this team faces an uncertain future. No one feels safe right now for the Steelers.
However, Jalen Ramsey feels like he is in a precarious position.
The driving force behind the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade last summer, the hope was to add a versatile and elite defensive playmaker in Ramsey. He wasn’t that in his first season with the Steelers.
Now, with a new coaching regime set to take the helm and a massive salary cap hit on the books, Ramsey may be in danger of not being on the team next year. His play down the stretch certainly didn’t help things.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may part ways with Jalen Ramsey
The hope was that Ramsey would give the Steelers a truly elite secondary. Him paired with Joey Porter Jr. and veteran free agent Darius Slay, formed an impressive trio on paper.
Then the season started, and everything went up in flames.
Porter did great, but Ramsey struggled to match up against faster receivers. Slay, on the other hand, was cut midseason because his play was that bad.
The saving grace was Ramsey’s move to safety. There, his diminished athleticism was better hidden, and at least initially, his play was solid.
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That doesn’t tell the full story, though. Ramsey’s play at safety faded down the stretch, and I would deem him average to slightly above average by season's end. Meanwhile, he carries nearly a $20 million cap hit next year.
That alone makes him one of the highest-paid safeties in the league, and the Steelers can save all of that money if Ramsey is gone before his roster bonus is due. It is certainly a conversation worth having.
On top of all of this, safety is no longer a valuable position in the NFL. While top safeties still get paid, that market is flooded with serviceable options. The truly elite safeties aren’t usually the difference makers on defenses anymore.
So, what do you do with Ramsey? Do you stomach the cap hit and hope he settles in at safety? Given his age, it feels far-fetched that he is going to suddenly emerge as an elite option.
You can try to trade him, but I doubt he has much of a market for the exact negative reasons that the Steelers have with Ramsey. More than likely, you will have to cut him.
Had Ramsey excelled last year, this wouldn’t be a question. However, a new regime could try to trim the fat on this roster and get younger in the secondary. This is one of the toughest choices that the Steelers will need to make this offseason.