Steelers' Potential Pursuit Of Jalen Ramsey Could Suddenly End If Certain Free Agent Is Interested In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers have done a nice job throughout the 2025 offseason of re-tooling their roster. There have been plenty of changes on both sides of the ball, most notably at the quarterback, wide receiver and defensive line positions. General Manager Omar Khan has been very tactical since the 2024 campaign ended, and fans should expect that more moves are still forthcoming. One area that remains a question mark is slot cornerback. Beanie Bishop Jr., Brandin Echols and Donte Kent will all likely be given a chance to compete for the job, but it's not out of the realm of possibility for an outsider to come in.

A lot of rumors have swirled surrounding Miami Dolphins cornerback, Jalen Ramsey. He has experience in the slot, so he could be acquired and jump right into that spot if a team needed him to. The Steelers have been brought up consistently as the Ramsey situation has evolved, but no true reports have suggested that Khan is being aggressive in trading for the former All-Pro.

If Pittsburgh truly does want to get an upgrade in the slot, it might be better to go after someone who has played the position his entire career. The Steelers love familiarity, and it should not come as a shock if the front office has been, or will be, in contact with Mike Hilton's camp. The former undrafted free agent spent four years in the Steel City and is now a legitimate veteran with plenty of experience.

Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox highlighted the potential reunion in a recent article. It's hard to argue that signing Hilton would be a bad thing for the Steelers, adding excitement to the possibility.

"Hilton spent his first four seasons in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers appear to be all-in on the 2025 season after signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers," Knox wrote. "They should be interested in adding corner depth for the upcoming campaign, and Hilton would be an upgrade over second-year slot corner Beanie Bishop Jr."

 

Hilton has spent his entire career playing in the AFC North. After four seasons with Pittsburgh, he signed a lucrative deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, and now, entering his ninth professional season, has yet to find a home for 2025. Wherever he lands, it will most likely be a one-year deal, and one that the Steelers could absolutely afford.

Pittsburgh could use some legitimacy in the slot on defense. The three guys likely competing for the job currently have the potential to show some promise, but bringing a veteran like Hilton into the mix will solidify the group for the 2025 season. Hilton made it known in the past that he didn't appreciate how the Steelers valued him when he was due for a new contract, but all relationships can be repaired with a fresh deal.

Khan has done a lot of work to get the roster ready for a potential surprising campaign, but the few holes that do exist are big ones. Everyone following the team understands that the slot is a concerning situation that has developed. It's possible that the Steelers pass on pursuing Hilton because of the current depth of three players, but anyone who can make the team better deserves a look.

Hilton has defied all odds as an undrafted free agent. His size held him back in the pre-draft process years ago, but he has had a fantastic career in the NFL. One more opportunity to play in the black and gold could be something that is on both his and the organization's minds.

Steelers Are A Couple Of Moves Away From Being Looked At As Contenders

Pittsburgh will have to have good offensive performances throughout the 2025 campaign to impress analysts, but the reality is that the team is only a few moves away from relevance in the AFC. Wide receiver is the most important piece on offense, and slot corner could be the most crucial to patch up on defense. This is exactly why a reunion with Hilton could be in the works.