The Dallas Cowboys are preparing to make some massive changes on the defensive side of the football this offseason. Hiring Christian Parker to be their defensive coordinator was a big step in massively improving a defense that ranked dead last in scoring this past season.
The main area where the Cowboys need to improve is in the secondary, as they surrendered the most passing yards per game in the NFL in 2025. They lost Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland has struggled to stay healthy, so they need to add some stability at corner beyond third-round rookie Shavon Revel Jr.
Since a reunion between Parker and Darius Slay isn't in play, his ex-Steelers teammate, Jalen Ramsey, could be the next best option. And per Bleacher Report writer Alex Ballentine, Mike McCarthy could turn the eight-time Pro Bowler into a cap casualty, which would swing the door right open for Jerry Jones.
The Cowboys–Jalen Ramsey connection dates back to the 2026 draft, when Ramsey revealed that Dallas said it would take him No. 4 overall. The former Florida State star has also been a frequent trade target linked to the Cowboys throughout his career.
If Mike McCarthy and the Steelers cut Jalen Ramsey, he could be in play for the Cowboys
If Ramsey does get cut once the new league year begins on March 11, he would be a significant upgrade in the Cowboys' secondary.
The 31-year-old is on the wrong side of 30 and has started to regress, but this Dallas secondary needs experience, especially if they address the position in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft as expected. He could provide mentorship to guys like Revel and Jermod McCoy or Mansoor Delane.
One major concern about signing the three-time All Pro is that his coverage numbers took a big step back in 2025. According to Pro Football Focus, Ramsey's 59.7 coverage grade marked a career-low, but his 84.8 run defense grade ranked fifth out of 98 qualified safeties, which is promising at least.
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Ramsey’s coverage struggles are understandable given that he was asked to play safety for the first time in his NFL career. His last experience at the position came during his freshman season at Florida State, and only out of necessity. The former Super Bowl champ is clearly more effective at corner.
Parker needs to set the tone with a first move to get fans on board, especially since he is the first Dallas DC to not have prior NFL head coaching experience since Monte Kiffin. But forget head coaching, he has never even been a DC or called plays before, which is a big deviation from the past.
Parker has a really strong track record of working with DBs in both Denver and Philadelphia, and he should bring that with him to the Lone Star State. So adding Ramsey, a DB capable of playing both corner and safety, could result in him returning to form to improve the Cowboys' dismal pass defense.