If there can be a star during four padless Pittsburgh Steelers training camp practices, it’s clearly cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. No player has been more impressive since the team reported to Latrobe, and he’s made plays virtually every day.
Samuel batted away a deep ball to DK Metcalf on Day One, swatted away a fade to Pat Freiermuth on Day Two, and broke up a pass to Metcalf during Saturday’s two-minute drill. Samuel has shown up positively every step of the way.
In an environment in which the defense can offer only limited resistance – no tackling, no hitting, and no all-out attack on the ball in an effort to keep everyone healthy – Samuel’s play is even more impressive. Not that it’s a shock. Samuel’s calling card has always been his ball skills, and it’s why he was a solid starting cornerback in Los Angeles before his 2024 injury.
It’s a bridge too far to think Samuel’s play is putting pressure on CB Joey Porter Jr. to see his back “injury” magically heals and he gets back on the field. A more relevant thought is this: How can Pittsburgh get Samuel on the field?
He’s arguably one of the team’s best 11 defenders. A conventional depth chart would put Samuel on the bench as the No. 3 corner behind Porter, once he returns, and Jamel Dean. Gluing him to the bench and only seeing action if and when there’s injury isn’t maximizing the team’s talent.
Where can Samuel fit? Pittsburgh may need to get creative. It’s an incentive to use six defensive back dime packages. The Steelers didn’t run a single snap of dime in 2025 under the old coaching staff. So far, the new collective hasn’t shown it during the team’s many two-minute drills. Samuel entering the field could come at the expense of a defensive lineman or Payton Wilson. The tradeoff might be worth it.
Pittsburgh could also try another approach, a base or nickel grouping with just one safety and three cornerbacks. The Steelers have occasionally used it in the past but may up the frequency to get Samuel additional snaps.
How the pieces fit can be up for debate. Who would play in the slot? Samuel isn’t ideal there in a full-time role, and the team will prefer Jalen Ramsey for his size, physicality, tackling, blitzing and run defense. Brandin Echols is also a viable option. But Samuel is a plus outside cover corner who can’t waste away on the bench.
Injuries ahead on the depth chart can always “solve” things. Jamel Dean has never been a pillar of health. It’s one reason why Pittsburgh stocked the cornerback shelves this offseason, and one reason why we warned Omar Khan not to consider trading away his surplus. Samuel is great depth, but his play is begging to be more than a backup. There needs to be a role for him in this defense. It’s up to the coaches to find it.