Category: Football

Jalen Ramsey has starred at cornerback since entering the NFL as the fifth overall pick of the Jaguars in 2016. Nine years later, a position change may be in store for the seven-time Pro Bowler. After Ramsey lined up at free safety in a 27-20 win over the Colts last Sunday, he’ll work “exclusively” at the position as the Steelers prepare to face the Chargers on Sunday, according to head coach Mike Tomlin (via Brooke Pryor of ESPN).

When discussing Ramsey this week (via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Tomlin said that his ability to handle multiple positions “will provide opportunities for Brandin Echols to step up, which he did, and play more nickel. It will give guys like James Pierre more reps outside. We have more depth at corner than we do safety right now. We’re simply pivoting and doing what’s required to keep the train rolling.”

As Tomlin alluded to, the Steelers were severely shorthanded at safety against the Colts’ top-ranked offense, necessitating Ramsey’s switch from corner. DeShon Elliott, Jabrill Peppers, Chuck Clark, and Miles Killebrew were all out with injuries and/or illnesses. Meanwhile, Kyle Dugger played his first game as a Steeler after they acquired him from the Patriots last Tuesday. Ramsey (78) and Dugger (77) ended up among Pittsburgh’s leaders in defensive snaps during a six-turnover, five-sack performance.

Just months after trading safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami in a June blockbuster that delivered Ramsey (and Jonnu Smith) to Pittsburgh, the Steelers are now relying on Ramsey to help strengthen the position. As Pro Football Focus’ 32nd-ranked corner out of 107 qualifiers, Ramsey has been a bright spot on a struggling Steelers defense this year. While the team is 5-3 and atop the AFC North, its pass defense ranks last in the NFL.

Unless the Steelers move Ramsey back to corner, he’s in line to join Peppers, Clark, Dugger, and Juan Thornhill as their choices at safety for the rest of the season. Elliott and Killebrew (primarily a special teamer) are on IR with knee injuries and questionable to return in 2025. Ramsey said back in 2021 that he’d one day like to emulate Charles Woodson, a Hall of Famer who made a successful transition from corner to safety late in his career. Four years later, Ramsey may be getting his wish.

A big trade domino will fall in the AFC, but the suitor has not been a regular in the oft-rumored receiver mix. The Raiders are trading Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Las Vegas will collect fourth- and sixth-round picks from Jacksonville, per Schefter. The Steelers joined the Jags in pursuing Meyers, but it appears they were not willing to part with this level of draft capital to land the rental chip.

The Jags held two fourth-rounders entering deadline day; NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the higher of the AFC South team’s two fourths will go to the Raiders. This move comes after the Jags placed Travis Hunter on IR and saw Brian Thomas Jr. suffer an ankle injury in Week 9. The Jags received an up-close view of Meyers, having faced the Raiders in that OT matchup. Meyers will now finish out his three-year, $33MM contract in Florida.

Meyers, 29 this week, had angled for a Vegas departure for a while. He asked for a trade this summer, as extension talks stalled, but the Raiders refused at the time. When the AFC West team struggled early this season, it became more receptive to moving on. Even with Meyers having played with minority Raiders owner Tom Brady — a factor in multiple signings elsewhere on the roster this offseason — the Raiders are separating for two Day 3 picks.

Jacksonville gave up its 2026 first-round pick in the three-spot jump for Hunter in April, but the team was still well-stocked with draft capital for 2026. The team came into the day with 13 picks (h/t Schefter), making the losses of fourth- and sixth-rounders passable, as an 11-selection arsenal is obviously still high for a single draft. The Liam Coen-James Gladstone regime continues to retool the Jags’ receiver position, something that began early this offseason.

In addition to cutting tight end Evan Engram, the Jags traded Christian Kirk to the Texans and then cut Devin Duvernay, Josh Reynolds and 2024 free agency addition Gabe Davis. Attempting to build around Thomas and Hunter, the team has seen inconsistent returns from both this season. Prior to his knee injury, Hunter had not caught on as a receiver. The two-way player struggled to factor into the offense regularly, though hope existed bigger contributions were on tap post-bye. Thomas has not matched his rookie-year work, and his injury left Parker Washington as Trevor Lawrence‘s top target to close the team’s 30-29 win over the Raiders.

Meyers was linked to the Steelers at multiple points, with the Bills also contacting the Raiders on the contract-year wideout. It was believe the Raiders eyed a Day 2 pick for Meyers, but considering he is a 2026 free agent, two Day 3 selections does not qualify as underwhelming. Even though Davante Adams and Amari Cooper brought third-rounders back to the Raiders and Browns last year, the Chiefs only paid a fifth-rounder for DeAndre Hopkins last year. Meyers is not in that class, but he has been a consistent wideout — largely on struggling teams.

Although Brock Bowers became the Vegas centerpiece player on offense last season, Meyers still produced following the Adams trade/faux injury stretch pre-trade. Meyers caught 87 passes for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns last season. In 2023, he totaled 71 receptions for 807 yards and eight scores as an Adams sidekick. Meyers is riding a four-season streak of 800-plus-yard seasons, as he also served as a regular target — for Brady, Cam Newton and Mac Jones — in New England.

The former UDFA had played well on his $11MM-per-year contract, but the Raiders changed regimes twice during his short tenure in Nevada. The Brady-Pete Carroll-John Spytek contingent will build around Bowers, with a pressing WR need — Tre Tucker‘s presence notwithstanding — on tap come 2026.

The Meyers-Jags move, while casting some doubt about the team’s view of Hunter’s stretch-run capabilities, also takes a key trade piece off the market for WR suitors. The Bills and Steelers have been consistently linked to wideouts ahead of the deadline. This Jacksonville strike for Meyers will make the Rashid Shaheed market more interesting.

Even though a recent report indicated the Saints could hold onto Shaheed to go with Chris Olave, the former’s contract-year status — on a rebuilding team — has always made him a logical trade chip. Will he end up in Buffalo or Pittsburgh (or on another roster) before the 3pm CT deadline?

Marquez Valdes-Scantling reunited with Aaron Rodgers earlier this week by inking a Steelers deal. In spite of that addition, more could be coming at the receiver position.

Pittsburgh is still looking into a trade acquisition at that spot, veteran insider Jordan Schultz and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler report. The Steeler have of course been connected to a move dating back to well before the Valdes-Scantling pact. The former Packers speedster has played on four teams since the end of his Green Bay tenure and expectations will be limited in his second time around with Rodgers.

The Steelers traded away George Pickens this offseason and replaced him with D.K. Metcalf. The latter inked a four-year, $132MM deal upon arrival from the Seahawks, and he will remain Pittsburgh’s WR1 for the foreseeable future. Finding depth production has been an issue in 2025, though, with Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson struggling to make a consistent impact.

As such, Pittsburgh could stand to add further ahead of the November 4 deadline. The team has been linked to interest in Jakobi Meyers and Calvin Ridley, among others. Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms (subscription required) the Steelers have made calls about Meyers, making them one of several teams in play for the Raiders veteran. Per Russini, Pittsburgh has indeed looked into other wideouts on the trade block as well.

Sitting at 4-3 on the year, the Steelers lead the AFC North as things stand. The team’s defensive struggles and a return to health on the part of the Ravens have led to recent pessimism about Pittsburgh’s chances of remaining in that spot, however. A rental move at the receiver spot would aid the offense, a unit which ranks just 23rd in the league in passing. Improving in that regard would be a feasible goal.

The Steelers have shown a willingness to be aggressive in terms of roster-building moves under general manager Omar Khan. With over $6MM in cap space, Pittsburgh can afford a modest swap in the coming days. It will be interesting to see if the team’s ongoing interest produces a deal.

The Raiders have placed a high asking price on wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but that hasn’t stopped other teams from inquiring about his availability before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Buffalo and Pittsburgh (previously reported) are among the teams that have called Las Vegas, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Although Meyers will be a free agent after the season, the Raiders are seeking a Day 2 draft pick in return for the soon-to-be 29-year-old. Meyers set career highs with 87 catches, 129 targets, and 1,027 yards during a four-touchdown showing in 2024. His numbers have dipped this year with new starting quarterback Geno Smith running the offense. Six games into his season, Meyers has hauled in 29 of 43 targets for 329 yards and gone without a TD.

Despite Meyers’ drop in production, it’s hardly a shock that the Bills and Steelers have checked in on him ahead of deadline day. Both AFC contenders have been aggressively seeking wideouts.

Outside of slot target Khalil Shakir, Bills receivers have failed to step up. Meanwhile, the Steelers are lacking a proven WR2 behind D.K. Metcalf. The Bills ($1.67MM) and Steelers ($5.89MM) are low in available spending space, meaning either would have to get creative to add Meyers. He’s playing out the year on a $10.5MM base salary and a $14.962MM cap hit.

Aside from Meyers, Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes and guard Jackson Powers-Johnson have also drawn interest, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Stokes is a pending free agent on a last-place team, but the Raiders have told inquiring clubs that they’re uninterested in trading him. The former Packer joined the Raiders on a one-year deal last March and has started in all six of his appearances this year. Stokes is second among Raiders cornerbacks in snap share, while Pro Football Focus ranks his performance a solid 38th among 113 qualifiers at his position.

The Raiders may be more amenable to moving Powers-Johnson, per Breer. While he’s not far removed from going in the second round of the 2024 draft, that was under the previous regime of general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce.

A former Oregon Duck, Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football in 2023. Working at center and guard as a rookie last year, he started in 14 of 15 appearances. Powers-Johnson’s role has changed this season under new head coach Pete Carroll, who has used him exclusively at guard. The 22-year-old has started in five of six games, but Carroll benched him for Alex Cappa in a 31-0 loss to the Chiefs in Week 7. With the Raiders coming out of their bye and set to face the Jaguars on Sunday in their last game before the deadline, Powers-Johnson’s usage will be worth monitoring.