Trade talks surrounding Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey are still heating up, and Pittsburgh Steelers fans have naturally gravitated towards the idea of this team trading for the star defender. For a team that needs everything it can get to be a competitor, Ramsey certainly makes sense as a premier talent.
However, outside of adding Ramsey for the sake of adding a big name, there is zero logical sense as to why the Steelers would be in on this trade.
Any rumor surrounding this deal feels like a stretch. While I won’t discount Ramsey as a player, he is among the best cornerbacks in the NFL, despite being over 30, there is no good way to fit him on this roster.
Unless the Dolphins are willing to give Ramsey for next to nothing, expecting a deal is foolish. Yet no one is talking about why a deal doesn’t make any sense.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can’t fit Jalen Ramsey onto their team
There are three aspects to any trade that you have to consider: the cost to acquire him, the actual contractual cost, and how the player fits on your current roster.
As for trade value, Ramsey isn’t being sold at a high value. His past few seasons have been muted. That said, he still has a notable name, so he won’t get dealt for nothing. You are probably looking at an early-day three pick. Certainly not a high cost for a player of his caliber.
His contract, on the other hand, is a mess.
He is owed a ton of money over the next few years, and his cap charges seem to be the primary reason why Miami is trying to deal him. Unless they eat a big portion of that contract, he is a tough player to deal away.
The more money that the Dolphins eat will equate to the more draft compensation that the Dolphins will want. This teeter-totter is likely the reason why a trade hasn’t materialized yet.
Now you have to consider the current Steelers cornerback room. Darius Slay was signed to be a starter at that price point, and Joey Porter Jr. is still an ascending player. Sending either to the bench is less than ideal.
While adding talent when cheap can be a good investment, Ramsey is neither of those. Adding him either creates an issue with Slay or forces a young player in Porter to the bench. I get the infatuation with adding a big name, but let’s be real: Ramsey to the Steelers makes absolutely no sense.
