Free agency hadn't even officially arrived yet when the Pittsburgh Steelers ensured they'd be bringing back a reliable player on a new contract.
On Monday morning, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Steelers have signed Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel was eligible to sign already because he finished last season with the Steelers.
The deal, per Schefter, is a one-year pact worth $4 million.
Samuel is the son of the Patriots great by the same name who was a two-time Super Bowl champion.
This Samuel had a tough 2025 as he recovered from neck surgery, but he played the final six games of the regular season for Pittsburgh after signing midseason.
Samuel was originally a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft from Florida State.
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Samuel made two interceptions in each of his first three NFL seasons.
In 2024, though, he played just four games as the injury ruined the rest of his season, and the Chargers decided to cut him loose.
That set Samuel up to eventually join the Steelers, for whom he made one interception and 10 tackles.
Still just 26 years old, Samuel could still reach a lot of his potential, and it feels like a great low-risk signing by Pittsburgh to prevent him from hitting the open market as free agency opens this week.
Cornerbacks are immensely valuable in the modern NFL, and the Steelers might've just gotten a good one on the cheap.
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