The Pittsburgh Steelers may have caught a fortunate break late in the 2025 season when veteran cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. decided to take his talents to Pittsburgh. At the time, Samuel was attempting to make his way back from a significant neck procedure, a serious medical hurdle that had clouded his short-term future. Even so, interest around the league had not dried up. Multiple teams were reportedly monitoring his recovery and considering whether he could help bolster their secondaries for a postseason push.
Despite those outside options, Samuel ultimately chose to sign with Pittsburgh in November, joining the team just as it was gearing up for the final stretch of the regular season. His arrival provided depth at a position that had been tested by injuries and inconsistency.
For a franchise with postseason aspirations, adding a player with Samuel’s pedigree and upside represented a calculated gamble — one that appeared to carry relatively low risk and potentially meaningful reward.
However, his stint in black and gold could prove to be short-lived.
In a preview of the upcoming 2026 free agency period, NFL reporter Greg Auman projected that Samuel might not remain in Pittsburgh beyond the current campaign. Instead, Auman floated the possibility that Samuel could sign with the Dallas Cowboys once the new league year opens in March.
Auman characterized Samuel, now 26 years old, as an intriguing reclamation candidate. Over the past two seasons, injuries have limited his availability, including a shoulder issue that further complicated his return to consistent playing time.
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In total, he has appeared in just 10 games during that span, a stark contrast to the workload he handled earlier in his career. Still, Auman pointed to Samuel’s late-season showing with Pittsburgh as evidence that there is still plenty of potential to unlock.
Though his sample size with the Steelers was relatively small, Samuel flashed encouraging signs. He demonstrated the instincts and ball skills that once made him one of the more promising young defensive backs in the league.
Earlier in his career, he turned heads with a standout playoff performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he intercepted three passes in a single game — a rare and memorable feat that underscored his knack for making impact plays on big stages. During his first three NFL seasons, he compiled six interceptions and delivered steady coverage, building a reputation as a dependable outside corner.
The possibility of a reunion with a familiar coach in Dallas also adds intrigue to the projection. Auman speculated that Samuel could land with the Cowboys and reconnect with his former position coach from the Los Angeles Chargers, Derrick Ansley. Such familiarity can often ease a transition, especially for a player looking to reestablish himself after injuries. A coach who understands Samuel’s strengths, tendencies, and work habits might be able to maximize his effectiveness and help him return to peak form.
During his brief tenure with Pittsburgh, Samuel appeared in seven total games when including postseason action. He was inserted into the starting lineup for three contests, specifically in Weeks 16 and 17, when the Steelers were grappling with injuries at the cornerback position. Those opportunities allowed him to log meaningful snaps against quality competition, offering the coaching staff a clearer look at what he could provide moving forward.
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Statistically, his regular-season production in Pittsburgh was modest but respectable given the limited playing time. Over six regular-season appearances, he recorded 10 combined tackles, broke up one pass, and secured an interception. While those numbers may not jump off the page, they reflect a player who was still regaining his rhythm after significant time away from full-speed action.
Zooming out to his broader body of work, Samuel’s career résumé remains appealing. Across 56 NFL games, he has accumulated 38 pass breakups and seven interceptions. Those figures illustrate a defender capable of challenging receivers at the catch point and creating turnovers — traits that are always in demand across the league. At just 26 years old, he is still firmly within his athletic prime, which makes teams more willing to bet on a bounce-back scenario.
For the Steelers, the decision on whether to retain Samuel could hinge on how the rest of their cornerback room shakes out this offseason. If key contributors return and younger players continue to develop, Pittsburgh might view Samuel as expendable or too costly to keep. On the other hand, if there are departures in free agency or lingering health concerns elsewhere on the depth chart, he could easily project as a starting option in 2026.
Ultimately, Samuel’s next destination will likely depend on how teams evaluate both his medical outlook and his upside. His late-season cameo in Pittsburgh suggested that he still possesses the quickness and instincts that made him an effective starter earlier in his career.
Whether that brief resurgence convinces the Steelers to keep him or entices another franchise like Dallas to make a stronger push remains to be seen. What is clear is that Samuel will enter free agency as one of the more intriguing defensive backs available — a young veteran with proven playmaking ability and something to prove.
Why Cowboys Could Sign CB Asante Samuel Jr.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers brought Samuel aboard in November, the move was widely viewed as a low-risk gamble rather than a long-term commitment. It wasn’t the type of signing that typically signals a franchise cornerstone or even a guaranteed roster fixture beyond the current season.
Instead, it felt like a calculated experiment — an opportunity to see whether a talented but recently injured player could rediscover his form. NFL teams frequently make these types of “prove-it” additions late in the year, but they don’t often circle back to retain them, particularly if the player generates meaningful interest on the open market.
Samuel’s path to Pittsburgh underscored that uncertainty. Before ultimately agreeing to terms with the Steelers, he reportedly met with six different teams. That level of interest suggested there was still intrigue around his upside, even if clubs were hesitant to make a significant financial commitment at the time.
Now, with more distance from his injury and additional time to demonstrate his health, it’s reasonable to assume that his market could expand when free agency opens in March. Players coming off major medical procedures often see their value rebound once they’ve proven they can compete again at full strength.
Last offseason, Samuel underwent spinal-fusion surgery — a serious procedure that understandably cooled his free-agent momentum. Prior to that setback, however, many analysts had projected him as one of the top 25 free agents in the 2025 class. That ranking reflected both his age and his potential ceiling.
At just 26 years old, he remains squarely in his athletic prime, with enough developmental runway to convince teams that his best football could still be ahead of him. In a league that prioritizes youth, speed, and long-term upside, that combination is extremely appealing.
This dual reality helps explain why the Steelers might have mixed feelings about bringing him back. On one hand, Samuel fits the profile of a player worth investing in. He’s young, he has flashed high-level ability, and he could provide stability at a position that always demands depth.
Retaining him would allow Pittsburgh to avoid reopening a roster hole and could provide continuity within the defensive scheme. On the other hand, free agency is driven by supply, demand, and bidding leverage. If multiple teams view Samuel as a difference-maker who simply needed time to recover, his price tag could escalate quickly.
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For a franchise like the Steelers, who traditionally prefer measured spending and long-term value over splashy contracts, entering a bidding war may not align with their philosophy. If another organization is willing to pay a premium based on projection rather than recent production, Pittsburgh could be forced to step aside. That doesn’t necessarily reflect a lack of belief in Samuel — it may simply be a matter of resource allocation.
One team that could emerge as a serious contender is the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas enters the offseason with glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball. The numbers from last season paint a troubling picture. The Cowboys ranked 30th in total yards allowed and finished dead last in points surrendered. Opposing offenses moved the ball with alarming consistency, particularly through the air. Dallas also ranked last in pass defense and in net yards allowed per pass attempt — a statistic that often reveals just how efficiently opponents are attacking downfield.
The struggles didn’t stop there. The Cowboys were second-to-last in passing touchdowns allowed, meaning they not only gave up yardage but also failed to tighten up in critical scoring situations. For a team with playoff aspirations and significant financial commitments on offense, such defensive deficiencies are unsustainable. Reinforcements are not just desirable — they are essential.
Samuel’s profile makes him an intriguing fit for a team in Dallas’ position. At 26, he aligns with a timeline that allows the Cowboys to build around younger defensive pieces while still adding immediate help. His previous reputation as a high-end free agent suggests that evaluators see traits that could translate into meaningful impact. If he returns fully healthy and regains his pre-injury explosiveness, he could be the type of player who stabilizes a secondary or pass rush unit that has struggled to hold up.
Ultimately, Samuel’s free agency may come down to competing visions. The Steelers know his medical history and have had firsthand exposure to his work ethic and recovery process. The Cowboys, or any other interested team, might see a buy-low opportunity with substantial upside. If the bidding remains reasonable, Pittsburgh could justify a reunion. But if multiple franchises begin competing aggressively, the economics could shift quickly.
In that scenario, Samuel’s next contract may reflect not just what he has done, but what teams believe he is still capable of becoming.
Will Samuel’s Injury Past Impact His Free Agency?
It will be fascinating to watch how the market develops for Samuel once free agency officially opens in March. Teams around the league will be evaluating not only his on-field production but also his recent injury history, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to his value. Front offices are expected to weigh both his upside and the potential risks before deciding how aggressively to pursue him on the open market.
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Back in January 2025, ESPN’s Kris Rhim reported that Samuel sustained a significant injury during a practice collision in 2024. The incident ultimately required spinal fusion surgery, a serious procedure that naturally raised concerns about his long-term durability.
At the time of the 2024 season, the initial public explanation for his absence late in the year centered on a shoulder issue. However, the later revelation about the spinal injury shifted the narrative and created additional uncertainty about his health moving forward.
Now, as teams prepare their offseason plans, the lingering question is how much those injuries will impact Samuel’s earning power in 2026 and beyond. Executives and medical staffs will undoubtedly conduct thorough evaluations to determine whether he can withstand the physical demands of a full NFL season. In a league where availability is often just as important as ability, his recent medical history could play a significant role in shaping contract offers.
Despite those concerns, Samuel appeared to ease some doubts during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. When he was on the field, he demonstrated flashes of the athleticism and instincts that once made him one of the league’s most promising young defensive backs. His performances suggested that he still possesses the skill set necessary to compete at a high level, even if questions about consistency and durability remain.
Still, the numbers reveal a more complicated picture. Over the past two seasons, Samuel has appeared in just 10 games. For a player hoping to secure a lucrative deal in free agency, limited availability can be a red flag. Teams may be hesitant to commit significant financial resources without confidence that he can stay healthy over a full schedule. The gap between his potential ceiling and his recent production may ultimately determine the structure of any contract he signs.
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There’s also the matter of whether he can rediscover the form he displayed earlier in his career with the Los Angeles Chargers. During his time in Los Angeles, Samuel seemed to be on a steady upward trajectory. From 2021 through 2023, he recorded 35 pass breakups and six interceptions across 46 games, establishing himself as a reliable and disruptive presence in the secondary. His ball skills, quickness, and ability to anticipate routes made him a challenging matchup for opposing receivers.
As the son of former All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel Sr., expectations have always followed him. Growing up around the game and learning from a seasoned veteran gave him a strong foundation, and at times, he looked poised to surpass even those lofty standards. His early career trajectory suggested he was developing into one of the premier cornerbacks in the NFL.
Now, however, his future hinges on how teams interpret the totality of his résumé. On one hand, there’s clear evidence of high-level performance and playmaking ability. On the other, there’s a recent history of injuries and limited availability that cannot be ignored. Free agency often rewards players who combine proven production with durability, and Samuel’s case presents a blend of promise and uncertainty.
Ultimately, March will provide answers about how the league values him at this stage of his career. Whether he secures a multi-year deal with substantial guarantees or opts for a shorter “prove-it” contract may depend on how confident teams feel about his health and his ability to return to peak form. Either way, his situation stands out as one of the more compelling storylines to monitor as free agency unfolds.
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