Steelers sign cornerbacks Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr. for $40.75 million

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jamel-dean/pvf1eu2L/"]Dean[/a], 29, is coming off a 2025 season where he put up a career-high three interceptions and ranked first among 144 qualified cornerbacks with an almost-perfect 99.9 pass rush grade and10th in pass coverage (75.9).[/p][p]He posted an astounding opposing passer rating of 47.7 and has only allowed one touchdown in the past two seasons, giving a huge boost to a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-steelers/AXWJxS6R/"]Steelers[/a] secondary that ranked 29th last season. The kicker is that Dean hasn't played a full season since being in the league, missing eight games the past two seasons alone.[/p][p]Pittsburgh also traded for wide receiver [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pittman-jr-michael/vXcDqO4F/"]Michael Pittman Jr.[/a] in a deal with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/indianapolis-colts/OOp2WPqe/"]Indianapolis Colts[/a] earlier on Monday ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/steelers-acquire-michael-pittman-from-colts-in-trade-and-sign-deal/AB1OxUk1/"]details here[/a]) and [a href="https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/2031147315377975724?s=20" target="_blank"]signed running back Rico Dowdle[/a].[/p][embed guid="321fb9a3-fd56-42b2-b910-11cbe6490232" url="https://x.com/NFL/status/2031076375973814505?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/samuel-asante/2iBMHWpJ/"]Samuel[/a], 26, has only played 10 games (seven starts) the past two seasons. He finished 2025 with just 10 tackles and one interception in six games. Pre-2024, Samuel showed great promise as a young corner for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-chargers/K0iU7PXK/"]Los Angeles Chargers[/a], finishing each of his first three seasons with at least two interceptions and 11 pass deflections.[/p][p]However, he missed most of the 2024 season after sustaining a "stinger" in his shoulder/neck area. This past year, he had spinal fusion surgery to fix a structural issue that the young corner has been dealing with since he was a kid. [/p][embed guid="33efa1d9-a377-44be-b298-e6e0a7699064" url="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2030968624278593703?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]