In a recent interview with Kyle Odegard of Gambling Industry News , former NFL defensive back Antrel Rolle gave his perspective on Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey potentially moving to safety this season. Rolle made three Pro Bowls after switching from cornerback to safety in the NFL.
"Jalen is a unique talent. I've always felt like he could be your Swiss army knife type of guy. You can play him in the slot, you can play him at corner, play him at safety, in dime. And he's aggressive enough that he can get all those jobs done extremely well," Rolle said. "He reminds me of Charles Woodson , with the body stature, the coverage ability, and they're not afraid to go in there and get their hands dirty. Most importantly, he has that competitive dog in him."
Rolle said an high IQ is needed to play safety. He also dropped some advice for Ramsey on playing on the back-end of the defense.
"Corner is a different type of dog, safety is a different type of dog. To be a hybrid player, it takes a different mental capacity, as far as understanding the playbook, understanding what the front is doing, what the linebackers are doing, et cetera," he explained. That's the part people don't understand – when you move from that island to the box, or back at safety, you have to be aware of what everyone on that defense is doing.
"The first piece of advice is to always work the craft that you had before. Still work on that corner craft, because it's going to make you that much better as a player, that much more versatile. When I made the transition to safety, yeah, I grew a different mentality, but in my heart I stayed a corner. If I stayed a corner, when I was lined up on the Wes Welkers, the Calvin Johnsons, my mentality never switched. I was just a more physical corner now."
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 08: Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) runs out on the field before the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets on December 8, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)
Ramsey has proven to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL over the last decade as a three-time first-team All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl LVI champion.
The 30-year-old has also already entertained the idea of making a switch to safety later in his career, too.
"I wouldn't have any problems moving to safety," Ramsey said back in 2021 .
If a position change occurs, Ramsey will have to be ready to be more involved defensively at safety.
"Now you have to know, if that three-technique is stunting to the 'B' or the 'A' gap, this hole may open up. If they pull, you've got to cancel out a gap. That's a totally different vocabulary than what we learned out there on the island," Rolle said. "It's very basic. There's not too much you need to know out there on an island. But once you come into that core, you have to know what you're doing."
The Steelers had to part ways with three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to acquire Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins . But ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reveals the Steelers were willing to do that because they think Ramsey is even more of a special player .
"This is a case-by-case situation where a player like Jalen Ramsey just happened to be available where they feel like he gives them more flexibility than what they had with Minkah Fitzpatrick," Fowler said on ESPN's Get Up . "He can play slot cornerback. He can play safety, if you need him to do that. They see shades of Rod Woodson."
Rod Woodson was drafted by the Steelers in 1987 and spent the first 12 season of his NFL career as a cornerback. He then made the switch to safety in 1999 with the Baltimore Ravens , building upon his Hall of Fame resume.
Woodson finished his career as a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1993), six-time first-team All-Pro, 11-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXV champion. He had 708 tackles, 13.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, 71 interceptions, 169 passes defensed and 13 touchdowns in his NFL career.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Ex-Pro Bowl Safety Weighs in on Jalen Ramsey's Potential Position Switch
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