The Pittsburgh Steelers have been connected to a Pro Bowl trade with the Dallas Cowboys.
Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers attempted to bolster their secondary by acquiring cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Miami Dolphins.
The Steelers moved the aging Ramsey to safety, and it resulted in the 31-year-old enjoying a Pro Bowl campaign, finishing with 88 tackles, three sacks, an interception and eight passes defended.
However, Ramsey was clearly not the same player he was during his prime, and his 59.7 coverage rating at Pro Football Focus is evidence of that fact.
Pittsburgh signed the three-time First-Team All-Pro to a four-year, $84.7 million contract extension upon acquiring him last spring, a decision that the Steelers now probably regret.
Ramsey is under contract with Pittsburgh through 2028, so it may benefit the Steelers to try and unload that remaining money.
Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine has pitched a trade for Pittsburgh to do just that, proposing that the Steelers send Ramsey to the Cowboys in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images."There is risk in trading for Ramsey. He's 31 and was moved to safety in the latter half of the season in Pittsburgh. However, it probably would only cost a Day 3 pick given his price tag and age," Ballentine wrote. "Even if the Cowboys have to keep him at safety, he would bring playmaking and leadership to the secondary."
A fifth-round selection may seem like a skimpy return for such a high-profile name like Ramsey, but this would be more of a salary dump than anything else for Pittsburgh.
Parting ways with Ramsey would also save the Steelers $19.5 million in cap space, which would go a long way in helping Pittsburgh fortify its roster for a playoff run next season, especially if Aaron Rodgers returns.
The Steelers currently own $44.9 million in cap space, but they can free up a considerable amount of more money with roster cuts, trades and contract restructures.
Given that Pittsburgh has not won a playoff game since January 2017, it would certainly behoove the Steelers to retool their roster.
Unfortunately, moving Ramsey might be necessary to do that, but again, he is no longer the shutdown defender he was during his peak years.
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