The Steelers started Jalen Ramsey out at corner in 2025, hoping he’d form an electrifying trio along with Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay. Unfortunately, that was electrifying for all the wrong reasons. After the entire defense was torched in a brutal mid-season loss to Cincinnati, Ramsey saw much more of his time spent at safety.
Heading into the 2026 season, things are unclear. The Steelers have praised positional versatility, on both sides of the ball, all offseason long. McCarthy mentioned that when speaking about Ramsey earlier this offseason as well. However, if there’s one main position to keep Ramsey at, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko thinks it may be safety.
“Waiting until the seventh round and grabbing Robert Spears-Jennings, who I do like… That makes me think that Ramsey probably is going to be more in the mix at that safety spot than at corner,” Batko said Wednesday on the North Shore Drive podcast.
Some thought of safety as a first-round position for the Steelers heading into the draft, but the team clearly didn’t see it as a massive priority. Robert Spears-Jennings does provide good value as late as the seventh round, but the Steelers seemed happy with the depth they accumulated through the offseason.
Considering that, Batko’s opinion does make sense. At safety, the Steelers added Jaquan Brisker and were expected to add Darnell Savage, though nothing has been official on that front for two months now. At cornerback, Pittsburgh made more moves. Jamel Dean was added through free agency, Asante Samuel Jr. was brought back, and Daylen Everette was taken in the third round.
If Jalen Ramsey does primarily play safety, there’s going to be more of an opening at nickel. Batko had two names come to his mind when thinking of that spot.
“Will Jaquan Brisker kind of play a slot, overhang sort of role?” Batko asked. “Daylen Everette is someone, too, who I think has some flexibility. It’s easier to make him flexible now as a rookie than it will be later on in his career… There are many different ways that they can lay out this secondary in order to get the best five out there.”
Brisker does have some experience at nickel. He’s physical against the run and loves to fly downhill, while bringing some value as a blitzer as well. Those qualities would make sense at nickel, where he’d be close to the line of scrimmage.
Everette played slot in college, although those occasions were rare, so he does have some experience as well. He has solid speed, good length, and isn’t afraid to stick his face in the fan against the run. Nickel could also represent an easier chance for Everette to get on the field. And of course, Brandin Echols is an obvious candidate for that spot.
As for Jalen Ramsey, he’ll probably see snaps in a variety of areas. But the Steelers’ offseason moves may show that he’ll find more of a home at safety than anywhere else.
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