Steelers Get Significant Injury Update on Potential Free Agent CB Target
The Pittsburgh Steelers received a significant injury update on one of the remaining potential free agent cornerback targets. Asante Samuel Jr., who is one of the top free agents remaining in the NFL, missed significant time with a neck injury during the 2024 season, and that injury is why Samuel has yet to sign this offseason.
According to a report by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Samuel is waiting to sign with a new team until he’s healed after undergoing neck surgery in April. He visited with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, but has a medical check-up in early July, and it won’t be until after that appointment that he seriously considering signing with another team.
Samuel, 25, was injured while playing for the Los Angeles Charges in October. The injury was initially characterized as a shoulder issue, but has now caused Samuel to need surgery on his neck.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback, the son of two-time New England Patriots Super Bowl champion cornerback Asante Samuel Sr., was a second-round pick for the Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Florida State.
Despite his slight stature, Samuel became a starter as a rookie at outside cornerback for the Chargers, and remained in that role until his injury last season. While he was injured, his contract with the Chargers expired and Samuel became an unrestricted free agent.
Though the Chargers mostly used him as a boundary receiver, the Steelers would probably be looking at Samuel as an option in the slot to help replace Cam Sutton. The Steelers signed Brandin Echols from the New York Jets and also drafted Donte Kent out of Central Michigan in the seventh round, but neither player has shown the coverage skills of Samuel.
One area of his game that may not be helped by a move to the slot is his consistently poor tackling. Samuel has a career missed tackle rate of 16.7%, per Pro Football Focus, and a neck injury will probably not improve his tackling technique.
Beside Echols and Kent, the Steelers also have former undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop at their disposal in the slot and can use third safety Juan Thornhill in their Heavy Nickel packages. Cory Trice is expected to back up outside starters Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay, but he has also played as a Dime cornerback and could fit into a Nickel role.