A week out of free agency, the Steelers are in talks with James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr., two potential starting cornerbacks. Both started games for the team last season at different points, having taken very different paths. Samuel has been a starter before; Pierre only emerged as a possibility late last season.
During the Combine, GM Omar Khan said the Steelers would like to keep both Pierre and Samuel. According to Mike DeFabo, the Steelers had already spoken to Samuel’s representatives, and they met with Pierre’s at the Combine. But the clock is ticking, players soon eligible to speak with other teams about their market.
James Pierre has spent nearly his entire career with the Steelers, initially signing as a college free agent in 2020. While they let him go before, he found himself back in Pittsburgh before long. Historically a special teams ace, he had always had his ups and downs on defense when given the opportunity. But he took his game to another level last season, exhibited by his career-high 11 passes defensed.
The Steelers signed Asante Samuel midseason a year ago. He had spinal-fusion surgery after the 2024 season and wasn’t medically cleared by anybody before then. As injuries, including to Pierre, mounted late last season, Samuel became increasingly important.
Pierre played 376 defensive snaps for the Steelers last season. He started five games, recording 30 tackles, 1 interception, 11 passes defensed, and 1 fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Samuel played 222 snaps in three starts over six games late in the Steelers’ season. He recorded 10 tackles with 1 interception and 1 pass defensed.
It’s hard to describe James Pierre as a journeyman, given that he has really only played for the Steelers. He had been that sort of player over the course of his career, however, and DeFabo doesn’t anticipate much of a market for him. He did point out that teams that now have former Steelers coaches could compete for him. Particularly the Vikings, who now have former Steelers defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander.
DeFabo is particularly interested in Asante Samuel’s market, however. A starter since his rookie season as a second-round draft pick, his neck injury rerouted his career. “The Steelers were one of only a few teams willing to medically clear the corner following spinal fusion surgery”, he wrote, adding that one league source “was shocked any team was willing to clear Samuel”.
Ultimately, he believes Samuel’s market will be limited because of the paucity of teams willing to clear him medically, which the Steelers have already done, despite the fact that he returned to the field already last season.
Despite the Steelers’ hopes to re-sign both James Pierre and Asante Samuel, DeFabo added that they “are planning to draft” a cornerback. That’s not some revelation, though, but mere pragmatism. They have 12 draft picks, and you always need another cornerback.
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