The Pittsburgh Steelers probably aren’t hunting for a blockbuster trade before training camp. Their roster feels close enough to settled that Omar Khan’s most realistic work will likely be leading up to the Aug. 30 cutdown day, where late-round picks and backup battles can shape the final 53.
That’s why Asante Samuel Jr. is worth watching once camp gets rolling. Pittsburgh re-signed the veteran cornerback to a one-year, $4 million deal in March after he showed flashes late in the 2025 season.
Samuel’s path back wasn’t easy. A congenital issue affecting his neck and shoulders led to recurring stinger symptoms and eventually required spinal fusion surgery. The injury cost him most of the 2024 season and kept him off the field until he was medically cleared in November 2025, when the Steelers signed him as a free agent.
Once Samuel got back on the field, he gave Pittsburgh enough to justify another look. But that deal never guaranteed him a spot. The Steelers drafted Daylen Everette in the third round, and his development could determine whether Samuel remains valuable depth or the Khan picks up the phone.
Daylen Everette could push the Pittsburgh Steelers toward an Asante Samuel Jr. trade
Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show recently floated Samuel as a possible late-August trade candidate while speaking on 93.7 The Fan.
“Well, if there's anybody, if you wanna save a couple bucks and you don't see him fitting in, I would think one of those late August 28th cuts would be Samuel,” Kaboly said. “Not cuts, I would trade him for a fifth- or sixth-round pick. Depending on how Everette pans out in the month of August. You'd like to keep him, but do you have to keep him?”
Kaboly’s point gets to the roster pressure Pittsburgh may face. Cutting Samuel wouldn’t help much, since the Steelers would save only $1.2 million while eating $2.8 million in dead money. If Everette proves he’s ready to handle real defensive snaps, a trade would be more beneficial.
That’s a big if, though. Everette has the size, length, and physicality that Pittsburgh values at cornerback. He’s strong in press-man coverage, can disrupt timing at the line, and brings the kind of run support that earns trust in this defense.
Like most rookies, Everette’s game needs refining. Zone instincts and off-coverage technique remain areas to sharpen, and NFL receivers can punish corners who are slow to recover after giving up separation. That’s why this should be viewed as pure speculation unless Everette shines in August.
Samuel’s limited 2025 production also gives the Steelers something to weigh. He had one interception and 10 tackles, but allowed 10 completions on 14 targets. Teams such as the Titans, Packers, Browns, Eagles, and Lions could use cornerback depth, and a fifth- or sixth-round pick would be hard to refuse if Pittsburgh believes Everette can win the third cornerback job behind Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean.
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