Joey Porter Jr. received a lot of attention during the 2025 season, and for good reason. He seemed to start scratching his potential as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 1 cornerback. However, he wasn’t the only Steelers corner who impressed. Veteran James Pierre made the most out of his opportunities, and now, he’s scheduled to be a free agent.
Analyst Nate Tice highlighted him as an underrated player who could really help a team.
“My last little under-the-radar guy is James Pierre,” Tice said Thursday on his Football 301 podcast. “He played opposite of JPJ in Pittsburgh and actually was really good. I wouldn’t say really good, but good. He’s older, but he’s a guy that maybe could surprise some people, maybe get signed and be something, be a stopgap starter for somebody.”
Pierre entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Steelers in 2020. He started six games in his first four years, mostly serving as a special teams player. While he signed with the Washington Commanders in 2024, they cut him before the season started, and he rejoined the Steelers.
His second stint started off as more of the same, but things changed last year. Outside of Porter, the Steelers were a mess at corner. Darius Slay clearly lost a step — the Steelers waived him in-season — and Jalen Ramsey moved to safety. That opened the door for Pierre to get more time with the starting defense.
He went on to easily play the best football of his career. Overall, Pierre played in 14 games with five starts, recording an interception and 11 passes defensed. While injuries slowed him down at times, he looked like he belonged in the starting corner spot opposite Porter.
As a result, the Steelers want Pierre back, and they’ve reportedly engaged in talks with him. It’s unclear what his market value will be, but the Steelers would be wise to re-sign him. Their corner room looks light at the moment. Even if Pierre doesn’t reach the same heights that he did in 2025, he could be a solid depth option. Perhaps he could even earn a starting role to begin the 2026 season.
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