Less than one week into the official start of the NFL’s 2026 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made significant upgrades to their secondary. Within hours of last Monday’s legal tampering period, the team agreed to a good-money contract with veteran cornerback Jamel Dean. Later last week, safety Jaquan Brisker agreed to come home. And Jalen Ramsey seems poised to stay after his roster bonus and additional guaranteed money came and went. DeShon Elliott is set to return after missing the last half of 2025.

So, how could this revamped Steelers’ secondary look? Let’s break it down.

Base Defense (Four Defensive Backs)

Left Corner – Joey Porter Jr.
Right Corner – Jamel Dean
Strong Safety – DeShon Elliott
Free Safety – Jalen Ramsey

Dean has played on the right side for about 90 percent of his career, so we’ll plug him there for now. Could Pittsburgh continue traveling with Porter, a decision that would force Dean to play both sides? Sure, especially if Porter receives a large contract extension this summer. But for simplicity’s sake, Porter left and Dean right.

Even before his full-time shift, Ramsey was used as a free safety in base packages early last year, when Darius Slay and Porter were the outside cornerbacks. Elliott returns as the starting strong safety. A role he’s done a great job of, though we’ll see if Jaquan Brisker pushes him for playing time. Situation to watch.

Nickel Defense (Five Defensive Backs)

Left Corner – Joey Porter Jr.
Right Corner – Jamel Dean
Slot Corner – Jalen Ramsey
Strong Safety – DeShon Elliott
Free Safety – Jaquan Brisker

Like early last year, Ramsey moves to slot corner in sub-packages. The idea of Porter (6’2, 190), Dean (6’1, 206), and Ramsey (6’1, 209) as Pittsburgh’s three cornerbacks is fascinating. A big trio that can challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage.

Brisker finds the field at free safety, a position he’s played a little less than half the time throughout his NFL career. Perhaps he’s not the ideal post safety, but he can still function in space and is a better choice than Elliott. Still, those two can mix and match and won’t be fixed to their free and strong spots.

Dime Defense (Six Defensive Backs)

Left Corner – Joey Porter Jr.
Right Corner – Jamel Dean
Slot Corner – Jalen Ramsey
Strong Safety – DeShon Elliott
Free Safety – Jaquan Brisker
Dime Backer – Brandin Echols

Everything remains the same, with Echols added as the sixth defensive back. Forgotten amid all of Pittsburgh’s additions, Echols had a solid 2025 season with just a couple of blips (the Chargers game against Ladd McConkey, for example). Still, he’s worth playing some snaps.

Pittsburgh didn’t play a single snap of dime defense last year, but with the defensive upgrades, it’s worth getting these guys on the field. Asante Samuel Jr. is an option as a dime player, but he’s a little less comfortable playing in the middle of the field and in the space a dime player often has. Samuel seems like a great option off the bench if either Porter or Dean suffers an injury at outside cornerback. A potential rookie safety may also compete for snaps, but until that player is in place, it’s hard to speculate.

As always, a plan on paper doesn’t guarantee success. Or even that the plan will stay intact. A year ago, Jalen Ramsey was supposed to be a shutdown corner against Ja’Marr Chase. Darius Slay was going to go out on a high note with one more season. Instead, Ramsey kicked to safety, Slay was kicked to the curb, and Brandin Echols became a shrewd offseason signing. Who knows what will happen?

Still, every team needs a plan. And this could be how things look when the team begins the season.