The Pittsburgh Steelers shook up the landscape of the AFC North by trading for Miami Dolphins’ star cornerback Jalen Ramsey on Monday. The deal addressed the team’s need at cornerback, and they will run out a trio of Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, and Ramsey in 2025. They also added another weapon to Arthur Smith’s offense, tight end Jonnu Smith.
However, the trade came at a cost. Along with a 2027 fifth-round pick, Pittsburgh sent three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back to Miami. While they improve their corner room, the safety unit takes a critical hit. Recently extended strong safety and former Baltimore Ravens draft pick, DeShon Elliott had a dominant season in 2024. But he now loses his partner in crime, and the Steelers are left scrambling to find who that will be this year.
One option who could replace Fitzpatrick has Ravens ties, and Baltimore fans are hoping this possibility comes to fruition. John Breech of CBS Sports listed three players the Steelers could target to replace Fitzpatrick. Marcus Williams was among those listed.
“Williams did get benched during the 2024 season and was a healthy scratch for Baltimore's final five games, so the Ravens clearly weren't thrilled with his play,” Breech wrote. “He also has a long history of injuries, so that could scare the Steelers away, but after getting released in March, he'll certainly be motivated to prove he still has what it takes to play in the NFL.”
Marcus Williams would be a laughably bad signing
At this point in the offseason, Pittsburgh will not find a replacement close to Fitzpatrick's caliber. No matter where they look, it would likely be a downgrade at free safety, and hopefully, that downgrade is Williams.
The 28-year-old had an impactful start to his Raven career, but various injuries caused his career to spiral off course. He became a liability in all phases of the game. He no longer was his former ball-hawking self, and his tackling, which was already inconsistent, looked even worse.
While signing with the Steelers would give Williams a shot at revenge on Baltimore for cutting him, there is no doubt Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson would have a field day with Williams handling the backend. The two-time MVP is one of the best at extending plays and has one of the liveliest arms of any quarterback in the NFL. If any of his dynamic receivers, like Zay Flowers or Rashod Bateman, get separation vertically, they would surely burn Williams deep.
The Steelers strengthened their offensive arsenal in the Miami trade, but their defense could take a hit. Ramsey is still one of the more skilled corners in the league, but losing Fitzpatrick could do more damage. And if Williams is the answer to that loss, the Steelers could find themselves in hot water.