Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre in a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 7, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
After an impressive 2025 season, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre could cash-in big this offseason.
Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus projects Pierre landing with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency.
“The Rams fell just short of the Super Bowl after losing an epic trilogy to the Seahawks, with their secondary a major reason why. Los Angeles should better a cornerback room that placed 17th in overall PFF grade in 2025, and Pierre could certainly serve as an upgrade,” Locker wrote.
“Pierre was elite in coverage last season with an 88.9 PFF coverage grade and a 57.2 passer rating when targeted, breaking up nine passes across only 255 coverage snaps. Moreover, his 87.6 coverage grade on Cover 2, 3 or Quarters is the fifth-best among qualified corners since 2024 — which means he would fit well in Chris Shula’s scheme. Questions about consistent production could follow Pierre into free agency, but his last year of tape could make him a big fish at the position.”
Pierre is one of several prominent free agents for the Steelers. Losing Pierre would be a massive loss for Pittsburgh, as he and Joey Porter Jr. were an elite duo in 2025.
Pierre and Porter finished the 2025 season at the very top of the league, according to Pro Football & Sports Network’s Cornerback Impact Metric. Porter earned a league-best 95.3 grade, while Pierre followed closely behind with a 90.3, making them the two highest-graded cornerbacks in football by the metric.
Pierre’s rise was even more unexpected. Entering the season, he was far from a roster lock after spending years as a depth piece. Injuries forced him into a larger role, and he responded with some of the best football of his career. He was particularly impressive against the Cincinnati Bengals, recording a key pass breakup while covering Ja’Marr Chase. Pierre also delivered one of the season’s defining moments with a crucial interception in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens, a play that played a major role in a Steelers’ victory.
Pierre is Pro Football and Sports Network’s fourth-best cornerback in free agency.
The Steelers are currently projected to have $45,604,170 in cap space this offseason, which is the eighth-most in the NFL, according to Over The Cap.
Joe Fitzgerald contributed.
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