Should the Steelers be concerned with Jalen Ramsey?
Although Jalen Ramsey has certainly made some big plays in a Steelers uniform, he has also suffered his share of losses in coverage. He has given up a few touchdowns this year while playing in a variety of roles. According to multiple different sources, he is giving up a catch more than a third of the time in coverage.
Of course, part of the equation is salary. The Steelers are paying Jalen Ramsey a lot, and I don’t think he’s on track for the Pro Bowl. Sure, he recorded an interception, and he has a couple of sacks. He can make a good tackle, but his ultimate job is to play in coverage.
Before the season started, Jalen Ramsey let it be known that he is “still that one”. The Steelers have given him the chance to prove it, but he has had concerning lapses. That doesn’t mean he is playing poorly on the whole or anything. But perhaps it raises the question of whether they have to reconsider what they’re asking of him.
And they are asking a lot of him, to be fair. Essentially, they want him to be able to play anywhere in the secondary, while also being prepared to play in the box and come off the edge. He can do all those things, but how much can they ask of him before things get muddled?
It’s reasonable to imagine that the Steelers can achieve better, more concentrated results by narrowing Jalen Ramsey’s responsibilities. I know Mike Tomlin got all excited about the idea of having three lockdown cornerbacks, but the reality is he was fooling himself. What he has is two guys who used to be lockdown cornerbacks and one who never has been. The sooner they realize this, the better off the entire defense will be. And they can get more out of their cornerbacks by recalibrating their expectations. The “manifesting” trend is stupid for a reason.
After another disappointing season and months of retooling, the Steelers are set to try it all again in 2025. Though they limped into the playoffs, they once again embarrassed themselves therein.
Just like last year, the biggest question hanging over the Steelers isthe quarterback question. They settled in on Aaron Rodgers, but we still have a lot to learn about him. The2025 NFL Draft class could play a big role, but veteran additions like Jalen Ramsey will be paramount.
Now we are in the regular season. From Rodgers to George Pickens to Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ramsey, we’ve seen the Steelers make some big changes. Now it’s about evaluating the roster in place and figuring out how it all works out.
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