The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing free agent CB Asante Samuel Jr., according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. After not making any moves in the final days of the trade deadline, they have found a way to upgrade their roster and bolster depth with this signing.
According to Fowler, Samuel Jr. will sign with the Steelers’ practice squad. He was set to visit the Steelers on Wednesday as part of his tour around the league after being medically cleared.
Samuel hasn’t played since Week 4 of the 2024 season when he suffered a spinal injury. He was cleared to play at the beginning of November and lined up several team visits to determine his next landing spot.
He ultimately chose the Steelers despite reported visits with the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears. His visit to Pittsburgh was going to be the final stop on his initial reported itinerary.
Dr. David Okonkwo, a neurosurgeon for the Steelers, performed Samuel’s spinal-fusion surgery in April.
Prior to his injury, Samuel had steadily improved in each of his first four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. A second-round pick by the Chargers, Samuel had double-digit passes defensed and a pair of interceptions in each of his three healthy seasons.
The 26-year-old Florida State product measured in at 5101, 180 pounds with 30 1/8-inch arms, a 35-inch vertical and a 4.41-second 40-yard dash when he entered the league. He played almost exclusively wide corner for the Chargers, starting 47 games in four years.
It’s always difficult to project how a player will bounce back after a neck or back injury that causes them to miss over a year. But this is a worthwhile flyer for the Steelers, who have suffered a number of injuries in their secondary this season. Jalen Ramsey recently moved to safety full-time after DeShon Elliott’s knee injury. The extra depth that Samuel may provide could help ensure that Ramsey stays at his new position.
Ramsey’s switch has moved Brandin Echols to the top nickel corner on the roster, but he’s also listed as the top backup on the outside. If Samuel can learn the defense and proves effective in his return from injury, the Steelers may be able to avoid further shuffling in the secondary if one of their top three corners gets hurt. Darius Slay is in concussion protocol from Sunday’s game, for example.
The Steelers will have to make a move on the practice squad to clear a spot for Samuel. But the move is a big one for the Steelers, who are adding a significant upgrade to a secondary that has dealt with a number of injuries this season.
