The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an uncharacteristic offseason in 2025. The franchise has been active on the trade market, and it is clear the decisions that are being made are in an effort to win-now. Pittsburgh's roster will look very different in 2025, and that is mainly due to the departure of George Pickens, Najee Harris and Minkah Fitzpatrick, as well as the turnover at quarterback. The Steelers have also acquired DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith via trade, as well as Darius Slay Jr. via free agency. It is fair to say the team got better on both sides of the ball, which should raise the ceiling of the 2025 Steelers.
The Steelers' decision to move on from Fitzpatrick was a surprising one, and it caught some fans off guard. It was no secret that the veteran safety had struggled to create splash plays in the last two seasons, but he was still an above average safety. The team could no longer justify paying him a large salary if he was not producing splash plays, which was a major factor in making the decision to part ways with the star.
Players in Pittsburgh were also caught off guard when they saw their teammates get dealt. It was not something anyone saw coming, but it was done for the betterment of the team.
Long snapper Christian Kuntz spoke about the deal on The Christian Kuntz Podcast, and he got honest about losing Fitzpatrick as a teammate.
"It's the NFL, dude," Kuntz said. "This is the business, and if anybody on our team knows the business, it's Minkah. He's a straight businessman. Sucks losing a guy like that in the locker room, obviously, and a player like that, and a person, 'cause he's unreal. But it's a business, dude. Shout out Mink. I'm gonna miss Mink in the locker room. As a teammate watching him work, dude, Mink's a pro. He leads, he is a quieter guy, but he leads by example, the way he works on the field, off the field on the plane, in his playbook. It's top tier."
Fitzpatrick was always known as a leader in Pittsburgh, and him being gone is going to be a big adjustment for the defense. However, this was a move that probably needed to happen. DeShon Elliott played well in 2024 and could be the lead safety in 2025, and the coaching staff can figure out what it wants to do at free safety.
Pittsburgh was able to move on from a player that was clearly declining over the last two seasons. In 2023, he struggled with injuries and only appeared in 10 games. In 2024, there were some games where he just seemed non-existent on the field. He still made an impact, but not one that justified his large contract.
Ramsey should be able to add more to the defense, as he is extremely versatile. He can play cornerback on the outside, in the slot, and even lineup at safety. He is on his way to being a Hall of Famer, and Pittsburgh might be the perfect place for him to end his career.
Steelers Have Some Decisions To Make In The Defensive Backfield
Pittsburgh also signed Juan Thornhill during the 2025 offseason, and he could lineup at free safety if needed. However, it probably was not in Pittsburgh's plans to have Thornhill starting the team's regular season opener. There is certainly a world where depending on the opposing offense's scheme and personnel, Ramsey is the starting free safety. If Pittsburgh needs to go into the nickel, Ramsey might bump down to slot corner and Thornhill could fill in behind him at safety.
This trade opens up a world of possibilities for the Pittsburgh defense, and it will be a very interesting situation to monitor throughout training camp and the preseason.
