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NFL insider Greg Aumen projected Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to sign with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers got a little lucky when cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. chose to sign with them in November. Although he was coming off serious neck surgery and trying to return in the middle of the season, Samuel wasn’t short on suitors.
Yet, he chose to join the Steelers defense for the 2025 stretch run.
But that might be the only time he spends in black and gold.
In his 2026 NFL free agency preview last week, NFL insider Greg Auman projected Samuel to sign with the Dallas Cowboys this March.
“Samuel, 26, is a tempting reclamation project, limited to 10 games over the last two seasons due to a shoulder injury, but a late-season cameo with the Steelers showed promise,” wrote Auman. “Samuel once had three interceptions in one playoff game against the Jaguars, and his first three years in the league netted six interceptions and consistent play.
“Could he land with the Cowboys and his old Chargers position coach, Derrick Ansley?”
Including the playoffs, Samuel played in seven games for the Steelers. He started three of them — Weeks 16-17 when the team was dealing with cornerback injuries.
Depending on who returns for the Steelers at cornerback, though, Samuel could project as a starter in Pittsburgh next season.
In six regular season games, Samuel posted 10 combined tackles, one pass defense and an interception. He has 38 pass defenses and seven interceptions in 56 career NFL games.
Why Cowboys Could Sign CB Asante Samuel Jr.
When the Steelers signed Samuel in November, it was more of a flier than anything. Teams don’t typically re-sign fliers, especially if there’s a potential bidding war.
Samuel visited six different teams before signing with the Steelers in November. Presumably, he would have more suitors this March because he’s further removed from his injury.
Before needing spinal-fusion surgery last offseason, pundits considered Samuel a top-25 free agent for 2025.
That explains both why the Steelers could and probably won’t re-sign Samuel. At 26 years old, he still has a lot of potential. Other teams, though, might pay top dollar for that potential.
The Cowboys badly need upgrades across their defense. Dallas finished 30th in yards allowed and last in points yielded last season. They were last in pass defense and net pass yards allowed per attempt. The Cowboys were also second-to-last in passing touchdowns allowed.
Will Samuel’s Injury Past Impact His Free Agency?
It will be very interesting to see what kind of market Samuel gets when free agency begins in March.
During January 2025, ESPN’s Kris Rhim reported Samuel suffered the injury on a collision in practice during 2024. That’s why he needed spinal fusion surgery.
Initially, it was reported Samuel missed the end of the 2024 campaign because of a shoulder ailment. The question going forward is whether either of those injuries will influence how much teams want to pay Samuel in 2026.
Samuel appeared to silence a lot of those concerns while with the Steelers.
Even still, Samuel has played just 10 games over the past two seasons. There’s no guarantee he returns to the form he had with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Son of former All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel Sr., Samuel appeared to be growing into one of the top cornerbacks in the league while in Los Angeles. From 2021-23, Samuel posted 35 pass defenses and six interceptions in 46 games.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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