In what has been one of the most eventful offseasons in recent memory, the Pittsburgh Steelers have seen their roster change in a major way. Big-name players have come in and been traded away. This team also played a strategic game in free agency, targeting cut players to work the comp pick formula in their favor.
However, just because this team made some big moves doesn’t mean it was the right move.
As the dust settles from the fallout of the Jalen Ramsey trade, it seems clear that this team wanted a better cornerback room this year. He joins fellow newbie Darius Slay and an ascending Joey Porter Jr., making up one of the most intriguing trios among all NFL secondaries.
However, the issue with this move is that we still lack a long-term plan. Slay is likely out the door and into retirement after this season while Ramsey feels more like a mercenary year by year as opposed to a long-term solution.
Pittsburgh could have instead looked towards a former draft crush in free agency to provide both a better fit on this defense as well as an upgrade in the cornerback room. It looks like the Steelers let Byron Murphy slip through their fingers once again.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should have added a versatile defender in Byron Murphy
Ahead of the 2019 NFL draft, the Steelers did a lot of homework on Murphy. He seemed like a potential fit for the team at pick 20, but they instead moved up for Devin Bush. He ended up falling to the top of the second round.
He didn’t hit his stride until he was signed by Minnesota though. There, he continued his strong play in the slot while also developing into a solid outside cornerback. He can play every snap for a defense and provide an instant upgrade along the inside for any defense.
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He signed a deal worth up to $22 million per season, with 18 million of that not associated with incentives. For a rising player who can wear a lot of hats, that seems like a good deal.
Instead, the Steelers choose band-aids in both Slay and Ramsey. Now, they are without a clear plan at safety and if age becomes an issue, they could easily have a let-down of a cornerback room.
The Steelers had a chance to amend their miss in the 2019 draft. Instead, they doubled down and continued to mismanage their roster. These new faces have a lot to prove during the 2025 season.