Asante Samuel Jr.

Steelers To Waive CB Darius Slay

December 2nd, 2025 at 11:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The rare modern cornerback to play an age-34 season, Darius Slay will see his time with the Steelers end earlier than expected. Pittsburgh is moving on from the veteran defender.

This is being described as a mutual parting, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Pittsburgh will sign fellow corner Asante Samuel Jr. from the practice squad to fill Slay’s roster spot. Slay was a healthy scratch for the Steelers’ Week 13 game against the Bills, foreshadowing this decision.

Slay is interested in continuing his career, but he will need to wait a bit before being allowed to pick his next destination. Although Slay is on a one-year, $10MM deal, the two-time Super Bowl starter’s base salary is the veteran minimum (for his service time) at $1.26MM. That would not put a waiver claim off the table for a corner-needy club. If Slay is unclaimed by 3pm CT on Wednesday, he will head back to free agency.

The NFL’s oldest active corner, Slay had viewed this as most likely his final season. The 13th-year cover man reunited with ex-Lions DC Teryl Austin in Pittsburgh and started nine games. Pro Football Focus viewed Slay on the fringes of the middle class at the position, slotting him 71st out of 110 qualified options.

Slay has certainly played much better, as he enjoyed a quality prime. As evidenced from a free agency deal requiring $10MM, Slay generated interest when the Eagles cut him this offseason. It would not shock if he landed elsewhere to close one of the better CB careers in this era.

As we discussed in a Trade Rumors Front Office piece this offseason, the Steelers have not been shy about deploying aging corners. They traded for Jalen Ramsey this offseason, doing so two years after being Patrick Peterson‘s last stop; the future Hall of Famer played an age-33 season in Pittsburgh. The Mike Tomlin tenure has also seen Joe Haden, William Gay and Ike Taylor play into their 30s. With the Steelers residing at a crossroads following a one-sided loss to the Bills — a game that brought steady boos and calls for Tomlin’s ouster — they are shaking up their secondary.

The Steelers have experimented with Ramsey at safety, but Slay has continued to work in the boundary corner position — one that brought him considerable success since being a 2013 Lions draftee. Slay logged 422 outside CB snaps during a 10-game Steelers stint. The six-time Pro Bowler broke up three passes and did not log an interception. Slay did allow a 75% completion rate and a 108.0 passer rating as the closest defender. While he is charged with only one touchdown allowed as a Steeler, his performance fell short of expectations ahead of the healthy scratch.

Tuesday’s transaction also blocks other teams from making sales pitches to Samuel, who could have been poached from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Added after an extensive visit tour last month, Samuel debuted for the Steelers — as a practice squad elevation — in Week 13. He played 28 defensive snaps in a backup role.

With teams seeing Samuel healthy, interest may well have come after he reverted back to the practice squad. But the 26-year-old CB is now on the 53-man roster, ending such speculation. The team will hope the four-year Chargers starter, whose free agency stalled because of neck surgery, can help out a pass defense ranking 28th.

Steelers Place LT Broderick Jones On Season-Ending IR; CB Asante Samuel To Make 2025 Debut

November 30th, 2025 at 10:39am CST by Nikhil Mehta

NOVEMBER 30: Jones’ neck injury is more serious than originally thought, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He will be miss the remainder of the season as a result.

NOVEMBER 29: The Steelers placed left tackle Broderick Jones on injured reserve and elevated cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Bills, per a team announcement.

The 2023 first-round pick will miss at least four games due to his IR placement. His earliest return would come in Week 17 against the Browns.

Jones suffered a neck injury during Pittsburgh’s Week 12 loss to the Bears. Six-year veteran Calvin Anderson closed out the game, but head coach Mike Tomlin said on Saturday that Andrus Peat would take over blind side duties in Week 13.

Jones, 24, started the Steelers’ first 11 games of the season, allowing six sacks and 23 pressures in 356 pass-blocking opportunities, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His 95.9 pass block efficiency is not much better than his 95.3 marks in the previous two season.

Peat will start at left tackle in the meantime. He has barely played in the last two years, but started 11 games at left tackle in New Orleans in 2023. He allowed two sacks and 30 pressures in 459 pass-blocking opportunities, per PFF, suggesting he can be a solid but unspectacular fill-in for Jones.

Samuel, 26, will make his 2025 debut against the Bills He was cleared from offseason spinal fusion surgery at the beginning of November and signed with the Steelers after taking visits with a number of teams. Sunday’s game will be Samuel’s first action in over a year and the Steelers are entering Week 13 with a relatively healthy cornerback room. As a result, he may not see much action, though Pittsburgh may try to get him in the game so he can reacclimate to the field. That would also give the Steelers a chance to evaluate Samuel and see what he can contribute for the rest of the year.

Steelers To Add CB Asante Samuel Jr.

November 11th, 2025 at 3:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Asante Samuel Jr.‘s extensive visit schedule will end in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will be adding the free agent cornerback, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Although Fowler adds this is a practice squad deal, Samuel seemed to have options. He scheduled visits with the Panthers, Packers, Vikings, 49ers, Steelers and Bears. Pittsburgh was to be Samuel’s last summit, and that was scheduled for Wednesday. The extensively pursued defender has a new home long after becoming a first-time free agent.

Part of PFR’s top 50 free agents list in March, Samuel saw his stock freefall after it became known he needed spinal fusion surgery. The four-year Chargers starter was only cleared last week, but a host of teams took interest in that development. Players with Samuel’s combination of age (26) and starting experience (47 games) are not regularly available in November, and a Steelers defense that has taken a step back this season could receive some help.

Samuel joins a Steelers team that overhauled its cornerback cast alongside Joey Porter Jr. this offseason. The team signed Darius Slay and Brandin Echols before trading for Jalen Ramsey. The likely Hall of Fame-bound trade pickup had shifted to safety midseason but slid back to corner amid injury troubles for that unit. Slay suffered a concussion during the Steelers’ Week 10 loss to the Chargers. James Pierre saw increased duty following Slay’s injury, but the Steelers have not performed well in nearly all defensive aspects this season. Samuel could help, and he may need to make an impact to avoid a “prove it” deal in 2026.

Pittsburgh ranks last against the pass and has allowed the fifth-most total yards this season. While the team ranks 20th in points allowed and 19th in EPA per pass, a veteran-heavy defense has proven unreliable. Slay, 34, ranks outside Pro Football Focus’ top 70 corners; Porter sits 50th, Echols 56th. While Ramsey is faring well and attempting to become the latest 30-something corner to transition to safety, not much has gone right around him. The Steelers have now added Samuel and Kyle Dugger in-season, with the latter being acquired via trade with the Patriots.

Before it became known Samuel needed neck surgery, PFR ranked him 32nd among free agents entering the 2025 league year. The former Los Angeles-based ballhawk missed 13 games last season due to a stinger-type injury — at least, that was the 2024 assessment — stood to ding his stock a bit, but with this year’s top CBs available nearing their 30th birthdays, Samuel was positioned to join Paulson Adebo in benefiting. But the spinal fusion matter changed the second-generation CB’s trajectory. Samuel had visited the Cardinals and Saints in the spring, and he drew Dolphins interest following those meetings. But it took a midseason clearance for a team to pull the trigger on a deal.

PFF graded the 5-foot-10 defender as a top-30 corner in 2022 and ’23. Though Samuel gave up seven touchdowns as the closest defender during the ’22 season, he made a memorable contribution in the playoffs by intercepting Trevor Lawrence three times — albeit during a game that featured a 27-point Bolts blown lead. Samuel has shown playmaking ability, intercepting six passes from 2021-23 and totaling at least 11 passes defensed during each of those three seasons.

The former second-round pick will have seen an injury take him off the field for a sizable chunk of two seasons, and a “prove it” deal ahead of an age-27 season would further impede his chances of cashing in. This profiles as an important stretch for Samuel, who may soon be asked to be part of the Steelers’ effort to hold off the Ravens in the AFC North.

49ers, Bears, Steelers To Meet With CB Asante Samuel Jr.

November 5th, 2025 at 3:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Asante Samuel Jr.‘s schedule is starting to look like a draft prospect’s itinerary of “30” visits. After the former Chargers cornerback received clearance to return from a troublesome injury, three more teams have entered the fray.

Following a report indicating the Packers, Panthers and Vikings had lined up visits, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes the free agent corner is set to meet with the 49ers, Bears and Steelers as well. While the Broncos not being in this mix will keep the Mountain Time Zone out of the mix, Samuel will otherwise — should he take all the meetings — make a cross-country trek over the next week.

After today’s Panthers visit, Samuel will meet with the Packers on Thursday and the Vikings on Friday. The 49ers, Bears and Steelers meetings will go off, respectively, Monday through Wednesday of next week. This jampacked schedule will give a host of teams the opportunity evaluate a player who spent his four-year Chargers run as a regular starter.

Cleared after spinal fusion surgery, Samuel will have met with a fourth of the league this year if he takes all these meetings. He met with the Saints and Cardinals during the spring and was later connected to the Dolphins’ months-long CB search. This will certainly provide Samuel quality intel on a chunk of the league’s facilities and schemes, something that could be relevant for a 2026 free agency foray, while the upcoming meetings should determine which team lands a young starter-level cover man following the trade deadline.

The 49ers have used Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and rookie Upton Stout as their primary starters this season. Pro Football Focus has rated Stout as the league’s second-worst CB regular — ahead of only the since-retired Xavien Howard. The 49ers have flexibility here, as both Lenoir and Green have slot experience. Lenoir has operated in a hybrid capacity in multiple seasons, giving San Francisco options if a Samuel signing comes to pass. Samuel has primarily been a boundary corner as a pro.

Pittsburgh has transitioned Jalen Ramsey to safety, following their 2023 move with Patrick Peterson. The Steelers have also seen Darius Slay‘s age-34 season produce some bumps. PFF grades Pittsburgh perimeter corners Slay and Joey Porter Jr. 68th and 71st among corners, respectively. The team also has Brandin Echols, who has logged nearly half of his snaps in the slot this season.

Battling uphill at corner due to Jaylon Johnson‘s early-season injury, the Bears rank 25th in pass defense. Kyler Gordon also missed a chunk of time earlier this season, but the high-paid slot patrolman is back. PFF ranks Chicago fill-in options Nick McCloud and Nahshon Wright outside the top 100 among CBs this season.

Prior to knowledge about Samuel’s surgery — which took place in April — PFR ranked him 32nd on our top 50 free agent list. Samuel, 26, profiled as a younger alternative to the deep late-20s crop at the position this year. But the surgery tabled interest, which has now come flooding back following the report of his clearance. This could go down as a lost season for Samuel, but he could potentially avoid the “prove it” FA tier in 2026 by catching on with a member of his suitor sextet and making notable contributions to close this season.

CB Asante Samuel Jr. Cleared To Play, Lining Up Visits

November 5th, 2025 at 1:23pm CST by Connor Byrne

Despite starting for the Chargers during the first four years of his career, free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. has gone without a deal since last season ended. Injury concerns have played a major role in that. After playing just four games in 2024, Samuel underwent spinal fusion surgery last April. The 26-year-old was finally cleared for football activities earlier this week, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

Now ready to resume his career, Samuel is drawing interest from teams and could serve as a second-half reinforcement for the club that signs him. He has already lined up visits with the Panthers, Packers, and Vikings, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz (Matt Schneidman of The Athletic first reported Green Bay’s interest).

Carolina is hosting Samuel on Wednesday, Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer relays. The Panthers weren’t expected to contend for a playoff spot this year, but they’re in the mix at 5-4 after upsetting the Packers in Lambeau Field last week.

After Jaycee Horn, their No. 1 cornerback, Mike Jackson and slot corner Chau Smith-Wade have gotten most of the playing time at the position. With a middle-of-the-pack pass defense that ranks 15th in the NFL, the Panthers may regard Samuel as a worthwhile addition.

The Packers have allowed just 197 passing yards per game, good for ninth in the league, but their interest in Samuel comes as corner Nate Hobbs is dealing with a Grade 1 MCL sprain. Hobbs, who left the Packers’ loss to the Panthers with the injury, is expected to miss at least two games, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.

With Hobbs temporarily unavailable, the Packers are down to Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, and Kamal Hadden at corner. Melton, a converted receiver, and Hadden bring minimal defensive experience to the table. With that in mind, the Packers’ interest in Samuel makes sense.

The 4-4 Vikings, trying to catch the NFC North-leading Packers (5-2-1), rank one spot ahead of Green Bay against the pass. Minnesota has 2024 Pro Bowler Byron Murphy and offseason free agent signing Isaiah Rodgers on hand as starting corners. Murphy and Rodgers have each logged a defensive snap share upward of 91% this year, but depth concerns may lead to a Samuel signing. Jeff Okudah, the third overall pick of the Lions in 2020, has struggled when healthy and is now battling his second concussion of the season. Meanwhile, Fabian Moreau and Dwight McGlothern have combined for just 57 defensive snaps in 2025.

Considering Samuel is a former second-round pick who intercepted two passes in each of his first three seasons, even more suitors could emerge now that he’s healthy. With the trade deadline having passed, Samuel may be the best hope for a team to acquire an impact player over the final couple months of the season.

CB Asante Samuel Jr. Aiming For Midseason NFL Deal

September 2nd, 2025 at 10:35am CST by Adam La Rose

Asante Samuel Jr. remains one of the top free agent corners still available with Week 1 approaching. A deal should not be expected any time soon, however.

Samuel underwent neck surgery in April, and his recovery process has dictated the nature of his market. The latest development on that front, courtesy of ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, is that Samuel is set to undergo a CT scan in October to ensure his spinal fusion was a success. It is after that point that the 25-year-old will look to sign with a new team.

Interest has existed in this case throughout the offseason. Samuel visited the Saints in May after being hosted by the Cardinals prior to his surgery. The Fort Lauderdale, FL. native has also been in touch with the Dolphins. Comments made about Miami’s culture under Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel by Samuel’s father led to speculation a deal would not be feasible between the parties. Instead, a Dolphins accord could still be worked out at some point.

The cornerback spot has been a major talking point this offseason for the Dolphins. Kendall Fuller‘s release was followed by the Jalen Ramsey trade and season-ending injuries suffered by Kader Kohou and Artie Burns created the need for at least one veteran addition during the summer. Mike Hilton was signed before very quickly being released, but Rasul Douglas‘ long-running connection to Miami resulted in a one-year pact being worked out last week.

The Dolphins could still have interest in further CB moves midway through the season depending on how the campaign begins. Even if that is not the case, Samuel should manage to field at least a few suitors once he is cleared. As Fowler notes, “several” teams have remained in contact through the offseason. That will no doubt continue once Samuel receives full clearance to play in 2025.

The former second-rounder served as a full-time starter while playing out his rookie contract with the Chargers. Samuel posted double-digit pass deflections in each of his first three seasons, adding a pair of interceptions every year in that span. 2024 saw the Florida State product make only four appearances, however, and injuries will be a cause for concern regarding any Samuel suitors. By the time he is available to join a team, a clearer picture will likely be in place with respect to squads in the market for in-season secondary help.

CB Asante Samuel Jr. Hasn’t Ruled Dolphins Out

July 11th, 2025 at 10:02pm CST by Ely Allen

It stands to reason that retired cornerback Asante Samuel would harbor no love for the Dolphins, a division rival of his for the first five years of his career in New England. Regardless, his free agent son, former Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., may still have the door open to returning to his hometown to play for the team.

In a recent episode of his podcast, Say What Needs To Be Said, the elder Samuel did what his podcast instructs. In response to Miami’s recent trade with Pittsburgh, Samuel was critical of the team’s leadership, calling head coach Mike McDaniel a “pushover” and accusing general manager Chris Grier of having “no backbone.” He claimed that the team cannot “stand up to the players…are terrified of their own players, and…have no control over their players.”

The rant comes a month after reports that the Dolphins were interested in adding his son to the roster. Even before Jalen Ramsey‘s departure, there were serious concerns about the team’s depth at cornerback, and after Ramsey’s departure, adding a cornerback with starting experience feels like a priority in Miami. The group is currently led by Kader Kohou, Cam Smith, Artie Burns, second-year undrafted corner Storm Duck, and rookie fifth-round pick Jason Marshall Jr.

Despite his father’s potential disapproval, Samuel doesn’t appear to hold the same animosity as his namesake. A recent comment on Samuel’s social media pleaded with him to ignore his father’s comments and join the Dolphins, and Samuel like the comment. Adding context to the interaction, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald passed on that, in his last check-in with Samuel a month ago, “there was nothing…to suggest he wouldn’t consider Miami if the Dolphins make an offer.”

Jackson adds that there has been contact between the two parties this offseason, so it doesn’t seem to be a stretch to imagine Samuel returning home to South Florida. If Miami does make an offer that Samuel accepts, one wonders if we’ll see his father sport a Dolphins jersey in support of his son.

Dolphins Interested In CB Asante Samuel Jr.; Rasul Douglas, James Bradberry On Radar

May 20th, 2025 at 1:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Ramsey is still a member of the Dolphins, but a trade remains the expectation in that case. Moving on from the All-Pro will create a notable cornerback vacancy, and to no surprise a few free agent options are on the team’s radar.

The Dolphins have made contact with Asante Samuel Jr., Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. He adds no formal visit is on the books at this point with no offer being made yet. Samuel is recovering from neck surgery, but the Dolphins are among the teams which will watch his situation closely over the coming weeks.

As Jackson confirms, Samuel is scheduled for a checkup in early July. Provided that goes well, the 25-year-old will likely not need to wait long to land a deal. He visited the Saints last week, and a Cardinals meeting also took place prior to the surgery. If a bidding war is to ensue, Miami will likely be involved (especially if Ramsey is on another team by that point).

Samuel is one of two corners to land among PFR’s top 50 free agents who remain unsigned. Rasul Douglas joins him, and the Dolphins had placed themselves in that market as well. Miami met with Douglas as well, extending an offer. No deal emerged, and Douglas then visited the Seahawks. The Dolphins, however, remain in touch with Douglas, Jackson adds.

James Bradberry also came up as a potential solution earlier this offseason, with Jackson indicating the Dolphins engaged in dialogue with the free agent. Bradberry will be unlikely to convince a team to spend much, as he is north of 30 (32 in August) and coming off a missed season. Prior to Bradberry’s summer Achilles tear, he had attempted to convert to safety. Eyeing a return to corner, Bradberry will attempt to recapture the form he displayed with the 2022 Eagles, as it catapulted him to a three-year, $38MM Philly deal in March 2023. The Bills also spoke with Bradberry, whom the Eagles designated a post-June 1 cut, this offseason.

These connections point both to a Ramsey separation coming to fruition — presumably after June 1 due to the extension the nine-year veteran signed last September — and the Dolphins being ready to supplement his unproven supporting cast. Miami has not seen much to indicate its second-round Cam Smith selection will pan out (153 career snaps), and the team did not draft a corner until Round 5 (Jason Marshall) this year. Former UDFAs Kader Kohou and Storm Duck remain in the mix. The Dolphins also signed former first-rounder Artie Burns as a depth piece, but if Ramsey is out of the picture, this looks like one of the more vulnerable position groups in the NFL.

Bradberry has made 124 starts during a nine-year career. Samuel has made 47, and while his injury-plagued 2024 has impacted his market, the second-generation NFL corner joins Douglas among the top free agents left. Douglas, 29, has made 80 career starts. Twenty-three of those came with the Bills since a 2023 deadline trade sent him to Buffalo, where the ex-Philadelphia draftee complemented Christian Benford for a Bills team that has continued to see its top corner unavailable in its biggest games. The Bills extended Benford, however, and used a first-round pick on Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston to signal Douglas will need to find a new home.

The Dolphins released Kendall Fuller, but the CB market also houses Shaquill Griffin, Jack Jones, Cameron Sutton and Michael Davis as potential boundary options. Stephon Gilmore remains available as well, but the former Defensive Player of the Year is entering what would be his age-35 season. It is fairly clear Miami will make a move here, and it appears likely to happen before training camp.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Asante Samuel Jr. Underwent Neck Surgery In April, Visited Saints

May 12th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. underwent neck surgery in April after missing most of the 2024 season due to injury, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He is planning to play this season, but is waiting until an early July check-up to sign with a new team.

Samuel started just four games for the Chargers last year before landing on injured reserve in October. At the end of the season, he said he was dealing with “stinger symptoms” in both shoulders as part of a lifelong health condition. It’s unclear if his neck surgery was related to that ailment. He played in 12 games as a rookie in 2021 and appeared in all 34 of the Chargers’ regular-season games in 2022 and 2023.

If Samuel’s health checks out, he should have multiple suitors as teams put together their training camp rosters. The Saints will likely be one of them; Samuel visited New Orleans on Monday, per Fowler. (He also visited the Cardinals in March, though that was before his surgery.)

New Orleans makes sense as a destination after parting ways with their two most experienced cornerbacks in the last year. 2024 starters Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor are set to reprise their roles this season, but Samuel would be an upgrade over re-signed slot corner Ugo Amadi. Samuel could take over at nickel or play on the boundary with Taylor in the slot.

Samuel is also familiar with the Saints’ new coaching staff. He played under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley when he was the Chargers’ head coach from 2021 to 2023. Samuel also knows Saints head coach Kellen Moore from his season as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator in 2023.

Cardinals Meet With Asante Samuel Jr.

March 13th, 2025 at 5:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top defenders still available, Asante Samuel Jr. will take the visit route to enhance his market. The four-year Chargers regular met with the Cardinals on Thursday, ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports.

Samuel is coming off a season in which a stinger-like injury limited him to four games. But the second-generation NFL corner is going into an age-26 season and worked as a primary Chargers starter during his rookie contract. The Bolts have signed Donte Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste this week, signaling Samuel might need to find a second contract elsewhere.

Operating primarily as a boundary corner, Samuel delivered a splashy wild-card performance by intercepting Trevor Lawrence three times as the Chargers built a 27-point lead. While that margin famously unraveled, Samuel maintained a regular Chargers role until going down last season. Samuel helped save the Chargers – to a degree, as their HC and GM were still fired – after their major J.C. Jackson miscalculation in 2023 and was a 2024 starter early in Jesse Minter‘s first DC season.

After winning the slot job during the Bolts’ 2023 training camp, Samuel shifted back outside – where he played almost exclusively from 2021-22 – after the team ended the Jackson experiment. Pro Football Focus graded the 5-10 cover man as a top-30 corner in 2022 and ’23, though he gave up seven touchdowns as the closest defender during the ’22 season. Also showing some ball-hawking ability, Samuel intercepted six passes from 2021-23 (nine if the Lawrence thefts are included) and posted 35 passes defensed in that span.

While we ranked Samuel 32nd among free agents this year, the cornerback rush did not include he or Rasul Douglas (No. 42). The more experienced batch of CBs — D.J. Reed, Byron Murphy, Carlton Davis, Charvarius Ward — each scored deals averaging at least $16MM per year, while Paulson Adebo and Nate Hobbs did well on the market. Samuel needing to take a visit does not signal he generated immense interest at free agency’s outset.

Letting Murphy and Patrick Peterson walk in free agency earlier this decade, the Cardinals are still in search of cornerstones here. They saw promise from slot defender Garrett Williams last season and used a second-round pick on Max Melton as well. Weeks prior to that, Arizona signed Sean Murphy-Bunting. Starling Thomas maintained a regular role for Arizona last season as well. While the Cardinals have more options than usual at this point, the Samuel visit confirms the team is still on the hunt for starter-level help at the position.

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