As far as starters go, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ group at cornerback seems rather set.

Joey Porter Jr. is coming off a breakout third season with the Steelers where he established himself as a top-10 player at the position, if not better than that, and Jamel Dean is his new running mate on the boundary after signing a three-year, $36.75 million deal with the team in free agency.

Jalen Ramsey should handle a large chunk of the snaps in the slot, though Brandin Echols could also see some time there if he makes the 53-man roster as expected.

With Pittsburgh also having third-round pick Daylen Everette waiting in the wings, Asante Samuel Jr. has almost become the forgotten man in the cornerback room after re-signing with the team on a one-year, $4 million contract. That doesn’t mean he should be overlooked, however,

How Did Samuel Jr. Perform in His First Season With Steelers?

After undergoing spinal fusion surgery in April 2025, Samuel Jr. was cleared to play in early November.

He took several visits with teams around the league, but ultimately decided to sign to Pittsburgh’s practice squad.

Samuel Jr. made his debut for the Steelers during their Week 13 bout with the Buffalo Bills after being elevated from the practice squad. He later signed to the team’s 53-man roster in early December and logged 222 defensive snaps over six regular season contests (three starts), posting an interception and 10 tackles in the process.

According to Pro Football Reference, Samuel Jr. allowed 10 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns on 14 targets in coverage.

Does Samuel Jr. Have Untapped Potential?

Assuming Porter Jr. signs a massive extension as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal, coupled with the financial commitment the Steelers made to Dean this offseason, it won’t be easy for Samuel Jr. to play his way into the starting lineup.

There is room for him, though, to continue improving and become a valuable depth piece on the boundary who plays anywhere between 20 to 30 snaps a game.

Samuel Jr. has logged minimal reps from the slot throughout his time in the NFL, and Pittsburgh has more experienced options there anyways, which could theoretically limit his playing time because he’s not super versatile.

He proved himself to be a ballhawk early in his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, recording six interceptions from 2021 to 2023, and he was always a solid starting-caliber corner.

Samuel Jr. has had some issues as a tackler, but given his athleticism and potential in coverage, he’s a sleeper in the Steelers’ cornerback room who could make a real difference in Patrick Graham’s defense in 2026.

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Reactions to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason moves have been mostly positive. One fact is undeniable: They have filled holes at position of need. Receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard were brought in to fill a major need while running back Rico Dowdle replaced a departed Kenneth Gainwell. Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker bring even more young potential to the offensive line while Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker add experienced secondary depth.

And of course, Aaron Rodgers was re-signed for what he confirmed will be his final NFL season. Arguably, the biggest change comes on the coaching staff as Mike Tomlin stepped aside after nineteen seasons and Mike McCarthy took over. Even though many argued it was time for a change, it will still be an adjustment for a team used to a certain level of continuity.

Offseason grades usually hinge on an individual’s perception of the moves made by a team but analysts from CBS Sports were high on the moves Pittsburgh’s made.

“I gave them an A. Big leap because of Aaron Rodgers. Now he’s back, so there’s no more questions about the quarterback room,” Emory Hunt said on CBS Sports HQ. “I think this team is set up better than what they were last year. I expect them to be able to run the football significantly better.”

Wilson came close to agreement.

“I gave them a B. Probably being more realistic, a B+,” added Ryan Wilson. “This draft class had to grow on you. In terms of trades and free agency, they checked a lot of boxes.”

Wilson added that his biggest question going forward is how Pittsburgh will ever find their quarterback of the future if they continue on the current trajectory of finishing every season with nine or ten wins and losing in the first round of the playoffs.

There’s no question that the Steelers look better on paper going into 2026. No team is perfect but this group doesn’t appear to have any glaring holes.

Will it be enough to break through and accomplish anything meaningful this season? Tanking isn’t in the Steelers’ DNA, so if the objective was to improve the roster this offseason, it’s been a success.

With the doom and gloom narrative that seemingly surrounds the Steelers and their direction, some may forget that they won the AFC North last season. Even with a different coach, the moves that they have made should be enough for Pittsburgh to remain competitive in 2026. The division will be as competitive as ever; keeping up with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow without elite play from the quarterback position is no easy task.

If there’s one defining attribute that the Steelers can carry over from the Tomlin era, one can hope it will be the ability to always stay competitive and in contention, even if they don’t always match up on paper. With the moves they’ve made this offseason, the gap on paper against some of the better teams in the NFL might not be as high as previously expected.

If there’s one defining attribute that the Steelers can carry over from the Tomlin era, always being in contention is critical. A tough schedule makes them the underdog in the majority of their games, but pundits counted out the 2025 team, too.