Would Asante Samuel Jr. or James Pierre solve the Steelers’ cornerback quandary opposite Joey Porter Jr.—or maybe even both? The two veteran defensive backs are due to hit unrestricted free agency, both coming off seasons worth exploring. The former has a starting history, while the latter is potentially a late-blooming option to consider.
When it comes to the Steelers’ free agents, former OL Trai Essex believes they need to try to keep both. “I think you have two young DBs in James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr., who are going to be relatively cheap. You don’t let them hit the market”, he said on the Snap Count podcast recently. “If you keep James Pierre and Asante Samuel, and you’ve got JPJ [Joey Porter Jr.] … I think that’s one position group you could lock up and not have to worry about for the rest of the offseason”.
James Pierre is not far from journeyman status, always teetering on the brink of NFL unemployment. He didn’t look likely to earn a job this year with the Steelers, but injuries—to Cory Trice Jr. and others—helped open the door. Then injuries in-season helped him get onto the field, and he made the most of most of his opportunities.
In the case of Asante Samuel Jr., we’re talking about someone who could have been a high-priced free agent. A significant neck injury that resulted in spinal fusion surgery, however, led to an offseason of recovery. Samuel chose to sign with the Steelers in-season, initially to the practice squad. He eventually played, starting some games due to injury, and not without some success.
The Steelers will have to sign Joey Porter Jr. to an extension this offseason, their undisputed top cornerback. Outside of Brandin Echols as a slot option, the rest of the room is uncertain. Will Jalen Ramsey play cornerback or safety? Will the Steelers bring back Asante Samuel and James Pierre, or will they leave as free agents?
It’s hard to imagine the Steelers letting both Samuel and Pierre go. And even with Pierre coming off a career year, including 11 passes defensed, I don’t see him finding much of a market. Up to now, he has struggled to find a job each year since his rookie contract expired.
As for Asante Samuel, he only played 222 snaps for the Steelers last season, and fewer than 500 combined over the past two years. How well does the league remember the player he was before his major injury? He is still young, turning 27 in October. Will the Steelers have the inside track to sign him, even with a nearly entirely new coaching staff?
And more to the point, would the Steelers’ re-signing Samuel and Pierre solve their cornerback position for the duration of the offseason, as Trai Essex suggests? They do still have Porter, Ramsey, Echols, Trice, and Donte Kent, at least in theory. But would running it back with the same group as last season be enough? This is a draft class that isn’t hurting for talent at the position—even for first-round consideration.
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