Steelers Reportedly See Jalen Ramsey as 'Clear Upgrade' After Minkah Fitzpatrick Trade

Even though Minkah Fitzpatrick made the Pro Bowl in four of his five full seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the club's decision to trade for Jalen Ramsey on Monday was in an attempt to keep up with the rest of the AFC North.

Discussing the deal on Tuesday's episode of Get Up, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explained the Steelers view Ramsey as a "clear upgrade" over Fitzpatrick in their secondary:

"For the Steelers, this was a simple move. They feel like they have a never-ending quest to try to get a Super Bowl roster together, even if it's not perfect. Baltimore's getting better around them. The Cincinnati Bengals’ offense is getting better. So they figure Jalen Ramsey was a clear upgrade, that they have a guy who could play inside, traditional cornerback. He can play safety. The source I just talked to actually scoffed at the 'all-in' notion. They said we do this every year, this is just what we need to do to try to surround not only the team with a winner, but Aaron Rodgers. They feel like they have the best quarterback outlook they’ve had in five years, they have a capable option, they are trying to maximize it now."

Pittsburgh acquired Ramsey, Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Miami Dolphins for Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Ramsey has been one of the most versatile defensive backs in the NFL since entering the league in 2016. Fitzpatrick, who started his career in Miami before being traded to Pittsburgh midway through the 2019 season, largely played at free safety with the Steelers.

The Steelers figure to move Ramsey around on the field, though he may not have to do it as much as he did in Miami because they have more talent in the secondary. Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay will primarily play on the outside, allowing Ramsey to line up in the slot and safety.

Considering the offensive talent other teams have within the Steelers own division possess, adding another impact player to the secondary is an easy decision. They have to find ways to slow down Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Lamar Jackson, Zay Flowers, DeAndre Hopkins, Rashod Bateman and Derrick Henry, which is a Herculean task.

At this stage of his career, Ramsey isn't the perennial All-Pro he once was, but the 30-year-old is still very good at making life difficult for opposing receivers.

When you sign Aaron Rodgers to be your quarterback, going all-out to maximize your chances of winning this season are paramount. The Steelers have done that with their acquisition of Ramsey as they chase their first playoff victory since the 2016 season.