There was a brief moment when it appeared the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to have cornerback Jalen Ramsey and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the same defensive backfield. That visual was quickly wiped away when reports revealed it was actually Fitzpatrick who was traded away to get Ramsey, and also tight end Jonnu Smith, in Pittsburgh.  

Player (and player) for player trades are uncommon in the NFL, especially when it looks like the team sacrificed one part of a unit for another, but the Steelers made what could be another season-defining move for a reason.

That reason, incredulously, involves the Cincinnati Bengals to some degree.

Why the Steelers traded Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey

Ramsey and Fitzpatrick have each lived off reputation to some degree for the last few years. Ramsey used to be one of the best pure cornerbacks in the game and has three All-Pro honors to prove it. Fitzpatrick has the same number next to his name and has played in two fewer seasons. 

The players they are now are not who they were even two years ago. Specifically with Fitzpatrick, his production has dropped over the last two years, and the Steelers having a specific defensive need spurred them to use this to their advantage.

As explained by A to Z Sports Steelers beat writer Rob Gregson, Pittsburgh envisions Ramsey as a solution to its weakness at nickel-back, or slot corner, as the position has been a liability since none other than Mike Hilton left the Steelers for Cincinnati in 2021.

On the surface, the Jalen Ramsey trade seems odd. Why would the Steelers trade one of the best safeties of his generation for a player who primarily plays outside corner when they already have Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay in said role? Sources tell A to Z Sports months ago that Pittsburgh desperately wanted to upgrade their slot corner or nickel position. It hasn't been the same since, well, Mike Hilton left for the Bengals. — A to Z Sports' Rob Gregson

Hilton was Pittsburgh's weapon in the slot from 2017-20 and watched his career grow even more after four years in the same role with the Bengals. His signing was one of many key additions that directly sparked Cincinnati's magical 2021 campaign that nearly ended in the franchise's first Super Bowl title. In all honesty, he's one of the best free agent signings in the history of the club.

The Bengals allowing a starter leave and using a plethora of resources to replace him is far too common of a practice in Cincinnati. That the Steelers of all clubs suffered this same fate because of the Bengals is quite the inverse. 

Ramsey, who's turning 31 this October, has never been a full-time slot corner. The Los Angeles Rams would move him inside periodically from 2021-23, but he's mostly known the boundary. He'll need to be prepared for more in Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati will need to expect this as well. 

What the Bengals should expect from Ramsey's new role in Pittsburgh

Ramsey joining an AFC North rival feels like a response to the Bengals locking in both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the next handful of years. Ramsey will be used mostly in the slot, according to Gregson, but that doesn't mean he can't follow around Cincinnati's top receivers from time-to-time.

Insert Ramsey, who has familiarity with the "star" role, a version of nickel-back. Since the trade, reports have confirmed that Ramsey will start in the slot, but the Steelers have no qualms with moving him around. I expect to see Ramsey in the slot, on the outside, and even at safety. Patrick Peterson was deployed similarly in 2023, and Ramsey is much more versatile.

So, from a Bengals perspective, there's a good chance that all of Mike Gesicki, Tee Higgins, and Ja'Marr Chase are shadowed by Ramsey at some point, and Chase seems to be excited about that. — A to Z Sports' Rob Gregson

The best way to ease the decline of a defensive back past the 30-year old threshold is to pick your spots. When the Steelers need a stop against the Bengals, Ramsey lining up against Chase or Higgins won't be a surprise after a few snaps of him playing in the slot or in the box. 

Ramsey hasn't played Cincinnati since Super Bowl LVI over three years ago. Their next matchup is a Thursday Night Football game in Week 7 of this season. The Bengals should expect a different version of the seven-time Pro Bowler taking the field that evening.