Over the years, and especially under this new regime, the Los Angeles Chargers have been more than comfortable cycling out defensive talent in order to keep their roster fresh and affordable.
This offseason, the casualty was cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. Last offseason, the losses held significantly more weight. Los Angeles allowed Joey Bosa, Poona Ford, and Asante Samuel Jr. to walk in free agency. Bosa is now seeking out a depth role with a new team, and Ford has found his home with the Los Angeles Rams.
But, for the most part, Samuel has been swept under the rug in league-wide discourse. He played just six games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season after making his return from a spinal fusion surgery that sidelined him for much of the campaign.
But Pittsburgh brought him back on a one-year, $4 million deal for 2026. As the Steelers enter the new season under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Samuel has a serious chance to prolong his NFL career by carving out a major role on Pittsburgh's defense.
Asante Samuel Jr. could have a major part to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season
Samuel, at the very least, was productive during his four years in Los Angeles. But the injury he sustained in 2024, combined with the Chargers' selections of Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still in the 2024 NFL Draft, all but sealed his departure.
Even for former high-level draft picks, the end of the rookie contract can represent a walk into the wilderness. Samuel is now left with the task of carving out his long-term role at the NFL level or fading into obscurity. The Steelers should give him the opportunity to accomplish the former in 2026. All Samuel needs to do is put himself in the right position.
While Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean are locked as CB1 and 2 on Pittsburgh's depth chart, Samuel has a clear path to carving out a role as a nickel/dime-set defender. His inclination toward zone looks could make him a solid weapon on third-down for the Steelers.
While he'll need to compete with third-round selection Daylen Everette, Samuel has a real chance to carve out a role as CB3 for Pittsburgh in training camp. Given Dean's consistent injury history— he missed a total of 12 games over the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers— Samuel could quickly position himself to step in as a starting outside corner, at least for a brief stretch.
For Samuel, 2026 is a make-or-break campaign. He doesn't necessarily need to start, but he does need to prove to both the Steelers and potential free-agent suitors that he still has gas left in the tank as a reliable coverage corner. If he can quickly earn the trust of Graham and exceed the 58% snap share he saw during his brief stint last season, he can put himself in perfect position to accomplish that.
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