Will Jalen Ramsey's NFL Odyssey Wind Up in Canton?

By John Turney 

Now a Pittsburgh Steeler, Jalen Ramsey has planted his flag with his fourth NFL team in just nine seasons. That’s a rare odyssey for a cornerback of his caliber -- a three-time All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler, and Super Bowl champ -- and it begs more than one question.

Is he, for instance, a mercenary whose elite skills teams can’t resist, a hired gun to push contenders over the top? Or does he wear out his welcome, leaving a trail of burned bridges?

The truth, as always, lies in the gray.

It’s likely more the former -- his value is undeniable -- but the fact remains: Few star corners like Ramsey have been traded three times. It’s a head-scratcher, and it has the football world buzzing, from X posts to barstool debates.

Ramsey’s journey from Jacksonville to Los Angeles to Miami and now Pittsburgh -- reads like a trade ticker. Jacksonville sent him to the Rams for a king’s ransom: two first-round picks and a fourth. The Rams dealt him to Miami for a third-rounder and tight end Hunter Long after he helped them win a Super Bowl in 2021. Then, Miami flipped him to Pittsburgh this year for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, tight end Jonnu Smith and a pick swap.

Why the moves? Start with the money. Ramsey’s contracts have been hefty. More than once, he's been the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, something he always demanded. But that was a price too high for the small-market Jaguars, and it started his sojourn.

That and the personality. The talk. The opinions.

Ramsey’s brash, outspoken nature -- evident in his 2019 Jacksonville exit after clashing with then-coach Doug Marrone -- can rub front offices raw. X posts whisper about locker-room issues in Miami, with some calling him a "cancer" before his 2025 trade demand. But that's hard to pin down. Those same posts praise his leadership when he’s locking down receivers.

But the real driver? Team needs. Jacksonville was rebuilding and wanted premium picks to stockpile, and the Rams wanted a ring he helped deliver. Miami thought it was poised to make a Super Bowl run and wanted veteran experience in their secondary. So the Dolphins grabbed him.

With Aaron Rodgers and a stacked defense, now it's Pittsburgh that's all-in for a title. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler nailed it: "A player like Jalen Ramsey… they feel like he gives them more flexibility than what they had with Minkah Fitzpatrick. He can play slot cornerback. He can play safety, if you need him to do that. They see shades of Rod Woodson." 

Now that's high praise. A Steelers' legend and first-ballot Hall of Famer, Woodson redefined versatility. If Ramsey can channel that in Pittsburgh, watch out. In other words, if he can play as he did when he was the best cornerback in the NFL, keep your eyes on Pittsburgh.

Wait. The best you say? Yes, the best.

-- In 2021, Pro Football Focus ranked Ramsey as the 16th-best player in NFL, noting, "Jalen Ramsey is undoubtedly a premier player in the NFL today, widely being viewed as the best cornerback in football."

-- NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks once ranked the top corners in the league and his pick for No. 1 was Jalen Ramsey. "The most bodacious cover corner in the game claims his spot as the NFL's ultimate CB1," Brooks said. "Ramsey not only possesses rare physical traits that make it nearly impossible for a receiver to escape the line untouched, but he is a refined technician with superb instincts and awareness on the island. ... "

-- His defensive coach in Los Angeles, Raheem Morris, called Ramsey "a great player ... rare. He's unique. He can be a shutdown corner, (or) you can move him inside and he can play at the nickel position. He's smart. You see his toughness oozing all over the tape. You can see his competitive nature all over the tape. You see the exciting plays. You're seeing what he can be and the best version of himself at all times when he's out there on the field."

-- Antonio Brown has also called Ramsey an "ultimate competitor," adding that "he's aggressive, he takes everything as a challenge, he's trying to win every route, he's trying to get in your head, he's going to block you aggressive. If you're lazy around the play, he's going to make you feel it ... that's the guy you want on your team. A cornerback playing with confidence. Great intangibles, great fundamentals ... that's Jalen Ramsey."

-- While opponents will mention Ramsey's cockiness and attitude, they never diminished his skill set. "The guy never has the mouthpiece in his mouth because he's always talking," related Brandon LaFell. "He's going to talk to you all game, he's going to get into your ears, get in your head, get you out of your game. That's Jalen Ramsey."

-- But he's more than just talk. He backs it up. "Jalen Ramsey (is the best I faced)," said Steelers' wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. "His trash talk, he's strong. Competitive. It's just a battle when we go up against each other ... It's going to be a physical game. He's a big corner, smart, you've got to be mentally and physically (on your game). He's going to attack you every chance he gets."

A Career Built for Canton?

But it's Ramsey's versatility -- outside corner, slot, even safety and snaps as an edge in his days in Los Angeles -- that sets him apart. Steelers' safety DeShon Elliott called him a "potential gold jacket guy," and he’s not wrong, with the emphasis on ... potential.

First, let’s talk end-of-season awards. Ramsey has plenty. He’s a three-time first-team AP All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion. Those honors alone put him in the conversation for a gold jacket. Not many cornerbacks have three or more AP All-Pros and seven or more Pro Bowls. Ten cornerbacks to be exact --Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Willie Brown, Darrelle Revis, Champ Bailey, "Night Train" Lane, Jalen Ramsey, Roger Wehrli, Aeneas Williams and Charles Woodson.

All but one is in Canton.

But then there are the stats, and that’s where the road gets bumpy. Ramsey’s skeptics snipe at his 24 interceptions. For a Hall-of-Fame corner, critics ask: Isn’t that a touch lean? Not so fast. Let’s zoom in on recent (post-1987) Hall-of-Fame corners through age 30 (Ramsey hits 31 this season): Charles Woodson had 25 interceptions, Barber and Revis each produced 28. Rod Woodson had 32, Eric Allen and Ty Law 36, Aeneas Williams 39 and Champ Bailey led with 43.

Yes, Ramsey’s 24 sits behind this elite crowd, but they're hardly lagging. Plus, no one ever questioned his ball skills. Instead, they suggest he's not targeted sufficiently to get big interception numbers.

For those Hall-of-Fame players mentioned post-30, the script varies. Charles Woodson went supernova, racking up 40 more picks and a Defensive Player-of-the-Year award. Rod Woodson earned five more Pro Bowls, though only one as a corner. Barber kept humming with 19 additional picks. Only Revis fizzled, with just one more interception, while Allen didn’t make a Pro Bowl after 30. Williams and Law were in the middle

Ramsey’s resume already holds its own, but Canton might need a late-career surge à la Charles Woodson ... or maybe even a move to safety like Rod Woodson, Williams and Barber. At 31, he should have plenty of juice, and Pittsburgh’s banking on it. If he can channel Woodson’s late prime, Canton is within reach.

One or two more All-Pros and a couple of Pro Bowls, plus a deep playoff run with the Steelers, could tip the scales. A second ring? That’s gold-jacket catnip. Pittsburgh’s defense— with T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Darius Slay, Joey Porter Jr.—is a perfect stage. If Ramsey shuts down top receivers and makes game-swinging plays, the chatter on X will shift from "maybe” to “when."

Ramsey is a rare breed -- a "different kind of cat" -- who, at his best was a shutdown corner with a nose for the ball and a mouth to match. His trades reflect his value, not his baggage, though a touch of drama follows. That's why playing for four teams shouldn't be a Hall-of-Fame barrier. Rod Woodson played for four teams. So did Revis and Law. And Deion Sanders? He played for five.

In a free-agent era, it's the lay of the land. Players move. Teams want quality corners even if they're aging -- with Sanders Exhibit A. The Ravens signed him after he'd been retired for three years.

No, Jalen Ramsey is no lock for the Hall, but he’s knocking on the door. If he delivers in Pittsburgh, he’ll quiet doubters and cement his legacy. For now, the Steelers are his proving ground. Ramsey can't talk his way into Canton. He must earn it by extending his elite play a few more years ... which is his intention.