Asante Samuel Jr.
Getty
The Steelers have re-signed Asante Samuel Jr. to a one-year contract
It’s beginning to be crunch time for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the offseason is only just getting underway. With the legal tampering period for free agency set to get underway on Monday, the Steelers are still waiting for a decision from legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers when it comes to his future in the NFL.
While Rodgers’ decision will likely shape how Pittsburgh’s offseason unfolds, he isn’t the only player who is set to hit free agency for the team. One guy who was trending towards hitting the open market was cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., but the Steelers have made a move to keep him in town for the upcoming season.
Steelers Re-Sign Asante Samuel Jr. to One-Year Contract
Samuel was initially a second-round pick for the Los Angeles Chargers back in 2021, and he quickly became a key piece of their secondary. He suffered a scary neck injury in 2024 that threw his playing career up in the air, as he missed over a year of action in the NFL as he worked on getting himself healthy.
Late in the 2025 campaign, the Steelers took a flier on Samuel, and he ended up playing six games for the team down the stretch of the season (three of which he started). It was a small sample size, but Samuel flashed his potential, as he racked up 10 tackles, one interception, and one pass deflection during his limited time on the field.
With free agency looming for Samuel, Pittsburgh needed to make a decision on his future with the team. If he were to hit the open market, teams were expected to show interest in signing Samuel, but the Steelers didn’t let him get that far, as they re-signed him to a one-year contract on Monday morning.
“The Steelers have re-signed versatile CB Asante Samuel Jr., sources say, as he gets a 1-year deal,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X. “After signing midseason, the former Chargers standout appeared in six games and flashed the potential that made him a budding star. Now, back in PIT.”
Steelers Shore Up Cornerback Depth with Asante Samuel Jr. Move
Asante Samuel Jr.
GettyThe Steelers have re-signed Asante Samuel Jr. to a one-year contract
With fellow cornerback James Pierre looking likely to depart in free agency, that makes the Steelers’ decision to re-sign Samuel all the more important. Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey remain the top options in the cornerback room, but with Ramsey getting moved all over the secondary, that could open up more opportunities for Samuel moving forward.
As things currently stand, it seems like Samuel will have an opportunity to lock down the starting boundary cornerback position alongside Porter heading into the 2026 campaign. Of course, Pittsburgh’s offseason work is only just getting started, so it’s fair to say that things could change in the blink of an eye. Re-signing Samuel is a win for the Steelers, but fans will want to keep tabs on this team, as it feels like some bigger moves will be made over the next couple of days.