New Steeler Jalen Ramsey open, willing to play anywhere — but expects to be outside CB

For the first 2 minutes of speaking with media covering his new team, veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey stuck to the script.

Where does he expect to line up at as part of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense?

“I’m gonna play football,” the 10-year veteran said Wednesday, intentionally vague and coy. “And we’re gonna figure that out together.”

Moments later, when again asked what position he would play, Ramsey again gave the boilerplate retort: “I came here to play football.”

It only took about three repeated queries, though, for Ramsey to relent.

“I don’t even know if I can really say this or not,” Ramsey said, motioning to a Steelers communications staffer behind him. “I don’t know if it might hit me or something.”

Once Ramsey heard the reply — “It’s all good” — he felt unburdened enough to deliver the subtle and polite — yet unambiguous — message that he sees himself as an outside cornerback.

“I just want to play football,” Ramsey said on the day the Steelers reported to Saint Vincent for the start of training camp. “I don’t care where I’m at. Corner, safety, slot.

“But at the same time, I don’t think I’m getting paid what I’m getting paid to not be in the position to affect the game. I’ll be in certain spots, so I’ll just say that.”

Wearing a “God is good” sweatshirt, newest Steeler Jalen Ramsey seems like he feels blessed to be with the team pic.twitter.com/KU0OWkQUwd

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) July 23, 2025

Ramsey’s average annual salary of $21.175 million, according to Spotrac.com, is the fifth-highest for any cornerback in the NFL.

The operative word being cornerback — the spot at which he has three times been named a first-team All-Pro and for seven consecutive seasons has been added to the Pro Bowl roster.

No doubt the Steelers could find a use at cornerback for a player with Ramsey’s career resume, even if at 30 years old he is arguably past his peak. But what makes Ramsey’s positional deployment interesting is that the Steelers already had Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay at outside cornerback. And that they have no obvious, proven slot cornerback. And that to acquire Ramsey (along with tight end Jonnu Smith), general manager Omar Khan gave up a starting safety in Minkah Fitzpatrick.

In other words, if Ramsey could play the slot or safety, it might offer more value to the Steelers as they fill out their defense.

“I’ll just say, Jalen, he’s got some position flexibility,” Khan said Wednesday. “I think (observers) will see he’s going to line up in different places on the field. He can do some exciting things. And he has proved it (his value). His resume speaks for itself.”

Khan said the Steelers were transparent with Ramsey’s camp about their plans for him throughout the negotiation process with the Miami Dolphins.

“If both sides (the Steelers and Ramsey) didn’t feel comfortable,” Khan said, “we wouldn’t have done it.”

Khan said the division of labor in the Steelers secondary will be sorted out over the next six weeks in training camp and during preseason games. The organization believes Ramsey is talented enough of a player he will be a help regardless of where he lines up.

“It’s only going to make us better,” safety Juan Thornhill said. “With a guy like him, he can play a little bit of everything.”

It’s no secret Ramsey wanted out of Miami after two seasons. Time will tell if he settles into a role he remains content with. But for now, Ramsey is thrilled to be a Steeler.

“I’m excited. I mean, I’m excited for everything that has to do with this organization,” said Ramsey, who previously played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams and Dolphins. “Obviously, this is a storied franchise. I went to the Super Bowl and loved my time at the L.A. Rams, but I can’t necessarily say that I’ve played for like a storied franchise like this yet. So this is very exciting for me. I’m just embracing all of it, really.”