General manager Omar Khan just made the ultimate statement that the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't settling for another mediocre season. Early in the offseason, Khan executed a blockbuster trade for Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf before the team ultimately signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now, Pittsburgh just made another win-now statement.
On Monday, NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Steelers have executed a trade with the Miami Dolphins for three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
However, this wasn't simply a trade involving one former All-Pro. Though the initial report didn't include much clarity, the trade is bigger than expected. In the deal with the Dolphins, the Steelers will receive Ramsey, Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick, while Miami is getting safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick from the Steelers.
Ramsey is coming off a 2024 season in which he recorded 60 tackles, six tackles for a loss, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions. Though last season marked the first time Ramsey didn't make the Pro Bowl since his rookie campaign in 2016, the star cornerback earned the 11th-highest PFF grade among all NFL cornerbacks last season.
With this move, the Steelers add much-needed depth and security to the secondary. With one of their biggest roster weaknesses now fixed, the sky is the limit for this Pittsburgh defense in 2025.
Jalen Ramsey trade was the ultimate quick-fix for the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense
Before trading for Jalen Ramsey, the Pittsburgh Steelers had one glaring hole on their team: nickel cornerback. During the 2025 offseason, the Steelers handed a one-year contract to veteran Darius Slay, but the Super Bowl champion is 34 years old, and his performance could go downhill fast.
With Slay, Joey Porter Jr., and backup Cory Trice Jr., the Steelers had some respectable options at boundary cornerback. However, the slot cornerback position consisted of unproven players like Beanie Bishop Jr. and seventh-round rookie Donte Kent.
Now, with Ramsey added to the mix, Pittsburgh just got the ultimate chess piece.
Ramsey is still a quality starter on the boundary, but he's capable of lining up just about anywhere in the secondary. In 2024, the versatile defensive back logged 185 snaps at slot cornerback, 728 snaps out wide, 80 snaps from the box, and even 33 snaps from the defensive line, according to Pro Football Focus' charting.
Though the Steelers have yet to reveal the plans for Ramsey in 2025, we can assume that he's a player who is rarely going to leave the field. Ramsey may operate as a starting boundary cornerback in Pittsburgh's base 3-4 defense before kicking inside for slot duties when the Steelers are in nickel and dime packages.
The addition of the perennial Pro Bowler instantly fixes the biggest issues in the secondary for the Steelers. With better coverage expected on the back end of Pittsburgh's defense in 2025 and with one of the best pass rush units in the NFL, the sky is the limit for this defense this year.