Jalen Ramsey’s name still carries plenty of weight around the NFL.
The Steelers defensive back landed at No. 82 on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list for 2026, as voted on by his fellow players. That’s a drop from his No. 66 spot a year ago, but it does nothing to change the bigger picture: Ramsey remains viewed as one of the league’s most dangerous defensive chess pieces.
The highlight reel that accompanied his ranking made that clear. Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith and Patriots safety Kevin Byard III both offered praise, and Byard’s comment got right to the heart of why Ramsey keeps showing up on these lists.
“Jalen’s always been a special athlete, man,” Byard said. “I think he’s one of the few guys in this league, probably in league history, that can truly make that seamless transition to be a Pro Bowl corner and now a Pro Bowl safety.”
Former Steelers running back Trey Sermon also weighed in, calling the versatility Ramsey brings to a defense “exceptional.”
That versatility has become the defining feature of Ramsey’s game. He built his reputation as one of the NFL’s top shutdown corners, but he’s since grown into a hybrid defender who can handle work at outside corner, in the slot, and at safety. That kind of flexibility is exactly why he still matters so much as his career moves into its next phase.
Pittsburgh is expected to lean into that skill set in 2026 under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Graham has a track record of using adaptable defenders in a variety of roles, and Ramsey looks set to be one of the central pieces in that approach, moving all over the formation as a true Swiss Army knife.
Even with the slight slide in the rankings, Ramsey’s place on the NFL Top 100 is another sign of the respect he commands around the league - and a reminder of the impact he’s expected to bring to the Steelers this season.
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