Purchase Or Promote: Steelers Protection Not Higher With Jalen Ramsey Over Minkah Fitzpatrick

Purchase or Promote: The Steelers’ protection will not be higher with Jalen Ramsey over Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Clarification: Whereas the Steelers added Jalen Ramsey to the protection, additionally they subtracted Minkah Fitzpatrick a nucleus of the unit. Though the final two years haven’t been his greatest, he hasn’t forgotten the best way to play soccer. Then once more, neither has Ramsey, however who’s going to play Fitzpatrick’s position at security?

Purchase:

Whereas all people will get on former Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick for his lack of splash performs the previous two years, it solely tells part of the story. Even merely taking a look at subjective protection stats is only a piece of the puzzle. It’s actually arduous to determine the affect a free security might have on a protection. Simply look again to final 12 months’s feedback by Arthur Smith about how they averted Jessie Bates III. Groups did that with Fitzpatrick, nevertheless it’s simpler to keep away from a cornerback like Jalen Ramsey.

The Steelers additionally don’t have an apparent substitute for Fitzpatrick, however they’d cornerbacks, even when not Ramsey. Then once more, even Ramsey will not be Ramsey at this stage of his profession quickly to show 31. And in the event that they anticipate him to maneuver to security, why do they assume that might enhance communication? A brand new workforce and a brand new place—that doesn’t sound like a recipe for achievement.

Promote:

Whereas stories of Minkah Fitzpatrick being behind the Steelers’ communication woes look like a delusion, it’s doable he has misplaced half a step and is failing to make performs his physique and mind anticipate him to make. Whereas cornerback is extra bodily demanding, there are extra simple and speedy mitigation instruments. As Jalen Ramsey will get older, he adapts his protection fashion. That’s more durable to evaluate whenever you’re enjoying 20 yards deep.

Moreover, Juan Thornhill is a succesful beginning security, and the Steelers wish to use Ramsey there, too, I think about. Possibly a mixture of the 2 take over Fitzpatrick’s position within the Steelers’ protection. However within the meantime, they massively improve the cornerback depth. And it additionally supplies Joey Porter Jr. one other mentor, which isn’t a nasty bonus.

The Steelers are constructing towards the 2025 season, following yet one more disappointing 12 months. Whereas they reached the playoffs, they as soon as once more misplaced decisively within the first spherical. They’re dealing with questions, each publicly, and maybe privately as properly. Questions on The Customary, and what the Steelers stand for.

The rookie class of a 12 months in the past was profitable, however they should step up into staple starters in 2025. And so they want everybody wholesome to do it, not an insignificant consideration. They wanted a powerful inflow of expertise in each free company and in the 2025 NFL draft but once more.

These types of uncertainties are what we are going to handle in our Purchase or Promote sequence. In every installment, we are going to introduce a subject assertion and weigh a number of the arguments for both shopping for it (which means that you simply agree with it or anticipate it to be true) or promoting it (which means you disagree with it or anticipate it to be false).