The NFL Top-100 list continues to generate conversation across the league, and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey landing at No. 82 has proven to be one of the more polarizing selections so far. Some Steelers fans believe the ranking is too low for a player who transformed Pittsburgh’s defense in the second half of last season. Others think 82 is far too generous for a cornerback who struggled mightily early in the year. Both sides have a case, but the full picture tells a more nuanced story.

The truth is, Ramsey’s 2025 season was essentially two different campaigns stitched together. The early returns at outside cornerback were rough. Everyone remembers that early season game against the Cincinnati Bengals, where Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins made it look like pitch and catch against Pittsburgh’s secondary. That performance, and others like it, made it clear that lining Ramsey up on the outside full-time was not the answer.

The second-half turnaround changed everything

When the Steelers shape-shifted their defensive alignment and moved Ramsey into more of a nickelback and safety role, the results spoke for themselves. That positional flexibility became a catalyst for Pittsburgh’s defensive surge in the second half of the season. Ramsey went from looking like a liability to looking like one of the more impactful defenders on the roster.

So the immediate question becomes: was No. 82 fair? I believe the ranking undersells what Ramsey became once the Steelers figured out how to deploy him. The first few weeks dragged his overall numbers down, but the player who finished the season was someone operating at a high level in a role that genuinely fit his skill set.

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Why 2026 could be Ramsey’s best season in Pittsburgh

I’m expecting an even bigger year from Ramsey, and a big reason for that is Patrick Graham. The new defensive coordinator inherits a player who already proved he can thrive as a chess piece in the secondary. If Graham didn’t see a role for Ramsey in his defense, Pittsburgh easily could have cut him and saved significant cap space, or at the very least explored the trade market to see what they could get in return. The fact that Ramsey is still on the roster tells you everything you need to know about how the coaching staff views him.

The way I see it, Ramsey’s 2026 role should look a lot like the second half of 2025, only with more intentionality from the start. I expect the Steelers to use him as a versatile weapon across the defensive backfield. That means nickelback duties, some outside corner reps in favorable matchups, and plenty of free safety and possibly even strong safety snaps where Pittsburgh can matchup hunt.

Placing Ramsey over a tight end, letting him run the alley, and using his physicality as a force player in the box gave the Steelers a dimension they didn’t have when he was stuck on an island at outside corner. Graham’s scheme should only amplify those strengths.

The bottom line on Ramsey’s ranking

No. 82 feels like a ranking that reflects the full-season body of work rather than the player Ramsey became once Pittsburgh found the right fit. The early struggles against Cincinnati and other opponents clearly weighed the number down. But if Ramsey plays a full 2026 season the way he played the final eight or nine games of 2025, a ranking in the 80s won’t do him justice next time around.

The Steelers are banking on Graham unlocking even more from a player who still has elite-level talent when deployed correctly. If that bet pays off, this ranking will look like a significant slight by the time next summer rolls around.