Weeks ago, I made the case for why inside linebacker Patrick Queen could have his best season yet. Today, Jalen Ramsey gets the same treatment. There’s no question his 2025 campaign came with a twinge of disappointment. Brought in to be Pittsburgh’s No. 1 cornerback and erase top competition, Ramsey ended the season looking every bit his age, even pivoting to safety midseason.
Ramsey’s stats were nondescript: 88 tackles, one interception, no forced fumbles. He made the Pro Bowl, but it didn’t feel like he truly earned it.
Still, there are reasons for optimism. Switching positions mid-season is difficult. Ramsey may have played safety early in his college days at Florida State, but doing it on the fly in the NFL is demanding for anybody. Now, Ramsey has a clearer understanding of how to play on the back end. He also has an entire offseason to hone his craft and learn the position, compared to his trial-by-fire last season.
Ramsey will rotate and play multiple positions. It’s plausible that Ramsey will play safety in Pittsburgh’s base 3-4 grouping and nickel corner in the team’s sub-package, which he started doing last training camp. When he’s at safety this season, Ramsey will feel much more at home.
Despite few notable stats, Ramsey’s tape was good. His speed to turn and run on the outside greatly diminished, but he remained an enforcer who delivered devastating hits over the middle. He has traits that made him a good centerfield player. He brings size, hit power, and a good football IQ; he also knows the league well and has seen every route concept and scheme. Ramsey still brings fear to pass-catchers in the middle of the field.
Ramsey talked the talk and walked the walk that day. As Aaron Rodgers would note, Ramsey offered a galvanizing pre-game speech ahead of Week Nine’s upset win over the Indianapolis Colts. The defense was at its best that day, forcing six turnovers in the victory.
One number that did stand out was his sack total. Ramsey had a career-best three last season, including a pair in a Week Six win over the Cleveland Browns. That game reminded me of Ramsey’s toughness. During the season, Rodgers offered insight into Ramsey playing through an injury despite Pittsburgh playing on Thursday night the following week.
“What he did this week, getting ready to play,” Rodgers said at the time. “I’ve been around the game a long time, and I’ve seen a lot of guys in a situation where you got a Sunday-Thursday, skip both games. Where maybe they’re 80 percent, 85 percent, but they want to be 100 percent. Because there’s a fear of failure almost that can paralyze them. Where, if I don’t play my best game, then what does that say about me if I’m not 100 percent? I think some guys are scared to go out there and play.”
Ramsey was toasted days later against Cincinnati, a potential consequence of his suiting up against Cleveland. DeShon Elliott’s injury and Juan Thornhill’s release compelled the team to move Ramsey to safety nearly full-time. From Weeks 1-8, Ramsey played cornerback 89.2 percent of the time. From Weeks 9-18, Ramsey played safety 82.5 percent of the time.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham must make the most of Ramsey. Graham must devise a big-picture and weekly game plan to maximize his ability. Pittsburgh presumes to lean on his versatility, especially after the coaching staff compared him to Charles Woodson.
Ramsey’s speed has degraded. No longer is he an outside cornerback running in lockstep with top-notch receivers. Even he’s seemingly acknowledged that. Still, other strengths of his game haven’t gone away. Like many formerly elite cornerbacks before him, including Woodson, shifting to safety can prolong his career.
Now in his 30s and with a large contract, Ramsey could make 2026 his final season in Pittsburgh. In fact, it likely is. He’s never been one to stay in the same place for long, anyway. But Pittsburgh can still squeeze out an impactful season that builds upon and betters his 2025 performance, even if it comes in a different form than the team imagined when trading for him in June 2025.