3) Jalen Ramsey, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers. When Ramsey and the Dolphins agreed to part ways this offseason, it wasn’t clear where he’d end up — and the lack of action on a trade during the draft muddied the waters even more.
Now, Ramsey joins a high-profile Steelers team that appears bent on reversing its lack of recent playoff success, determined to make a Super Bowl run in 2025. While that’s not guaranteed to happen, the situation in Pittsburgh should be more conducive to success than what was going on with him in Miami.
Not only does Ramsey receive a $1.5 million boost this season (coming after the Dolphins already paid him $4 million this offseason, plus more to facilitate the trade), but he also can cash in again with a strong campaign in 2025. Yes, cornerback extensions tend to be rare for players who are 30 years old (like Ramsey) or older; then again, he need look no further than new teammate Darius Slay, who landed a three-year, $42 million extension (with $23.1 million guaranteed) with the Eagles as a 32-year-old in 2023, for proof that opportunity exists.
On the Steelers’ end, Ramsey’s contract — which has three seasons but no guaranteed money remaining after 2025, per Over The Cap — essentially makes this a one-year trial, minimizing the risk to a degree. It remains to be seen how all the secondary pieces will work together in Pittsburgh, especially when it comes to Slay’s role, but this is a pretty loaded defense. Ramsey has the positional versatility to wear a number of different hats; he and Slay can easily emerge as leaders for that group, which is anchored by a strong front seven.
Ramsey’s unusual skill set allows him to be a factor in coverage and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. There might not be a one-for-one replacement for the 28-year-old Fitzpatrick in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers are an even older team now, but they absolutely have the pieces to be a dominant defense. Going all in has its costs, but the potential benefits could be big, too.