Brooke PryorMar 9, 2026, 04:00 PM ET
CloseBrooke Pryor is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2019. She previously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and the University of Oklahoma for The Oklahoman.
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NFL free agency is off and running, and we’re keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2026 offseason, with analysis from our NFL nation reporters and grades from our experts.
The new league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, which means free agents can be made official after that. The first round of the 2026 NFL draft begins April 23 on ESPN.
On Monday, the Indianapolis Colts traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a swap of late-round draft picks, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The physical and reliable Pittman will pair with DK Metcalf and gives Aaron Rodgers — should he opt to return for the 2026 season — a veteran who’s had at least 65 catches in each of the last five seasons.
Here’s a breakdown of every 2026 NFL free agent signing by the Steelers and how each will impact the upcoming season:
A third-round draft pick by the Buccaneers in 2019 out of Auburn, Jamel Dean was the last remaining cornerback from Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV championship team. Jonathan Dyer/Imagn Images
The Steelers agree to a three-year, $36.75 million deal with the cornerback.
What it means: The Steelers’ search for a cornerback to pair with Joey Porter Jr. continues with the addition of Dean, who put up a solid season with the Bucs in 2025.
Dean had three interceptions in 14 starts last season, his most productive season as a pro since being selected by the Bucs in the third round of the 2019 draft. He also scored his second pick-six with a 55-yard house call against the New York Jets in Week 3. The Steelers re-signed cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. just before the negotiation period opened, and this signing further upgrades and fortifies the position.
The 26-year-old cornerback is set to re-sign on a one-year, $4 million deal, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
What it means: The Steelers made a low-risk move last season by signing Samuel to the practice squad after he was medically cleared from an April 2025 spinal fusion surgery. The move not only paid off in the short-term as the Steelers got crucial depth at the position down the stretch, but they also got a deal done to keep him in the building before he hit free agency. Samuel showed he can be a valuable asset with three starts and an interception late last season.