The Pittsburgh Steelers came into this offseason with some decisions to make at cornerback. They didn’t get as much as they wanted out of the position last year, and needed some upgrades while simultaneously having a couple of players hitting free agency. Asante Samuel Jr. ended up being retained, but James Pierre was not, agreeing to sign with Minnesota on a two-year deal.
Samuel wasn’t the only addition, though. Pittsburgh agreed to a bigger one, bringing Jamel Dean over from Tampa Bay on a three-year deal, and he figures to start opposite of Joey Porter Jr. With Pierre out of the building, and Dean now in it, beat writer Mike DeFabo understands the decisions.
“I’m a pretty big James Pierre guy. I think that he performed well and that he earned every bit of money. But people were acting like they lost Rod Woodson when he left. This is a significant upgrade from a James Pierre. I just feel like, now they’ve got two legitimate corners,” DeFabo said Tuesday on 93.7 The Fan. “He’s going to be very willing to participate in the run game. A very sound tackler. Pretty ball-aware, with a guy that had three interceptions last year. So, I think this really gives them what they needed.”
With a new staff in place, there’s bound to be some roster turnover. So it’s not all that surprising that Pierre ended up leaving. And the decision to let him walk does make some sense. He’s struggled with consistency throughout his career, and it’s risky to hand over a large contract in that situation.
However, one could also argue that the Steelers could have afforded the $8.5 million Minnesota is paying him over two years. James Pierre performed pretty well when asked last year. If he can stay healthy, it’s pretty good value for Minnesota.
That said, if the Steelers draft one or multiple cornerbacks this April, it makes more sense for Pierre to leave. Porter, Dean, Samuel and Jalen Ramsey can all play the position, so there’s not a ton of room if the Steelers wanted to draft the position while retaining Pierre.
One thing is for sure: they’re getting a talented piece in Dean. He’s coming off a terrific 2025 season, allowing just a 49.2-percent completion rate and a passer rating of 63.1 when targeted, each among the best marks of his career. He’s a physical corner with long arms to jam receivers, but he’s also quick enough to stick with them in man coverage. Dean will fit nicely along with Porter.
There’s still plenty of offseason left, and more moves to come. But for now, DeFabo is happy to move on from James Pierre in favor of Jamel Dean.
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