After a disastrous finish to the 2024 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t been shy about shaking up their roster this offseason. The most recent in that collection of strikes concerned buying and selling Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in trade for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. The transfer has drawn combined evaluations up to now. Former NFL CB Asante Samuel Sr. thinks it makes the Steelers higher defensively.
“If the Steelers’ protection was ranked twelfth in complete protection, with nearly no manufacturing from Minkah Fitzpatrick final season, I do know, and I assure Jalen Ramsey will make this protection a greater protection,” Asante mentioned on Say What Wants To Be Stated on Monday.
Fitzpatrick’s lack of manufacturing was a giant storyline final 12 months. After grabbing a league-leading six interceptions in 2022, Fitzpatrick couldn’t replicate the identical manufacturing during the last two years, getting only one throughout that span. Whereas he nonetheless brings worth and is actually nonetheless one of many higher gamers at his place, the shortage of manufacturing was sufficient for Pittsburgh to tug the plug.
It’s not as straightforward as merely inserting Ramsey into the lineup, although. Pittsburgh has loads of depth throughout the secondary, each at cornerback and security. That could be a good drawback to have. Nevertheless it results in questions on whether or not Ramsey may need to spend a while at security.
Samuel thinks he could be higher in that spot than Fitzpatrick if he does. And he doesn’t perceive why the Dolphins would have made such a transfer.
“To me, it doesn’t make sense,” Samuel mentioned. “Since you [Dolphins] traded for an additional security [Fitzpatrick], when Jalen Ramsey might simply be moved to security and be far more productive than the particular person you simply traded for.”
By way of manufacturing, Ramsey could be somewhat higher than Fitzpatrick. Over the past two years, Ramsey has 5 interceptions and 16 passes defended, which clearly surpasses Fitzpatrick’s numbers. Nonetheless, whereas Ramsey does play with physicality, he isn’t as robust towards the run as Fitzpatrick is. The 2 additionally play totally different positions, so it’s exhausting to actually evaluate them till we see Ramsey at security.
For what it’s value, Samuel isn’t the one former defensive again who thinks Ramsey could make the transition. Former Steeler Rod Woodson additionally thinks Ramsey could make the transfer.
With Jalen Ramsey now within the fold, there are a ton of massive names which have joined the Steelers this offseason. From Ramsey and Darius Slay on the protection to DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers on the offense, Pittsburgh has loads of star energy within the constructing. That’s led to some comparisons to the “Dream Group” Philadelphia Eagles again in 2011. That roster had loads of stars, however couldn’t obtain something notable. A member of that roster, Samuel has larger expectations for the Steelers this 12 months.
“I’m evaluating the Steelers’ trades and signings the identical method that the Eagles went out and did their massive one,” Samuel mentioned. “They went out and received all of the big-name gamers to hopefully make this staff a Tremendous Bowl-caliber staff. However the distinction is, we wasn’t established. They was attempting to determine the teaching tree for the Eagles, when the Steelers are already established, the scheme has been there for a very long time.”
Evaluating them to the Eagles again then, the Steelers have extra stability of their favor. There are additionally longtime stalwarts in Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt on the unit. Nonetheless, it could take a while for issues to gel. For one, Ramsey, Slay, and Juan Thornhill are all key gamers this 12 months, and so they’re all new to the protection. Beanie Bishop Jr. additionally claims there will likely be some important variations within the protection going ahead after the unit struggled to finish the 2025 season.
Pittsburgh is attempting to retool and compete concurrently, which has led to its present state of affairs. Samuel believes the protection will likely be higher with Ramsey. He additionally thinks they’ve extra of an opportunity than his “Dream Group” Eagles. That’s music to the ears of Steelers followers, however solely time will inform if he’s proper.
