Cowboys Land Steelers Star In Potential Player For Pick Trade

The Pittsburgh Steelers experienced a turbulent and unusual 2025 season. General Manager Omar Khan aggressively reshaped the roster during the offseason, attempting to remain competitive while still planning ahead. A major focus was the secondary, highlighted by the additions of Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay to strengthen the defense.
However, those high-profile moves failed to deliver as expected. Slay was released midway through the season, while Ramsey — though not disastrous — was frequently targeted by opposing offenses. Throughout the year, Ramsey was deployed in multiple roles, lining up at slot corner, outside corner, and even safety.
Injuries and inconsistent veteran performances forced the Steelers into a midseason shake-up. By year’s end, Asante Samuel Jr., James Pierre, and Kyle Dugger had emerged as starters. Dugger was acquired shortly before the trade deadline following a season-ending knee injury to Deshon Elliott.
Depth at free safety quickly became a concern, prompting the team to move Ramsey into that role permanently. Initially, the transition appeared successful. In his first full game at free safety, the defense delivered a statement performance, shutting down the league’s top-ranked offense at the time, the Indianapolis Colts, in a key victory driven by defensive dominance.
But that early promise faded. As the season wore on, the safety group’s performance declined significantly, turning into a weak point for the defense. Ramsey, in particular, struggled in the role and became one of the primary contributors to the unit’s late-season issues.