The Pittsburgh Steelers had an absolutely dominant win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 15 to keep their playoff hopes alive. The final score doesn't do the game justice, as Pittsburgh had a 28-3 lead before Miami put up a pair of garbage-time touchdowns. Newcomer Asante Samuel Jr. got his first interception with the Black and Gold while making his first start of the season, and the hope is that there will be more of that to come as time goes on. He still has a ton of talent on the outside.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. seen taking a knee while participating in a regular season practice with his new teammates at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
During his postgame press conference, Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked about the play of Samuel during this contest. He responded with a little hint about the future plans for him in Pittsburgh.
"I'm not surprised by what I see from that young man," Tomlin said. "That's why we were so excited to get him. We did our draft evals when he came out and really liked him when he came out of Tallahassee. He's a global starter. We're appreciative of his efforts and certainly not surprised by it."
The fact that Tomlin called Samuel a "global starter" would indicate how much he respects his game, and it would be safe to assume that the Steelers will make an attempt to sign him in 2026 to keep him around. Having him and Joey Porter Jr. locking down the outside spots would be huge in future years. A global starter just fell right into their lap, and they are taking full advantage of it.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Asante Samuel Jr. during a practice in his first weeks with the organization in 2025.
Of course, the Steelers will have dibs on him, as they can negotiate a new contract with him before anyone else can, so this is a deal that could possibly get done in January or February after the season ends. The future at the cornerback position will be very bright if they can keep him around, and it eliminates a need in the 2026 NFL Draft, so they can focus more on other positions.
Would The Steelers Or Samuel Take A Risk?
A situation like this does not come up very often, and there may be a dilemma with contract negotiations. Samuel will most likely want at least a two-year deal to make sure he won't be cast off quickly, while the Steelers may want to be cautious and not tie themselves to player that has had just a handful of games in 2025. This could get very interesting for both parties.
With the Steelers likely wanting to be conservative in negotiations, Samuel will have to decide if he thinks he can get better offers elsewhere. A bidding war could start up for the global starter if he chooses to test the open market. Either way, one side will definitely be taking a risk.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan intently making a crucial phone call during the intensity of draft night, coordinating key decisions to shape the future of the franchise.
The best answer would likely be giving Samuel a multi-year deal. He has lots of experience to go with his immense talent, and the upside of the defense raises with him there. Besides, the Steelers rarely give out guarantees past the first year, so this may not be that much different. A three-year deal done the Steeler way would likely be the best scenario for both sides.
Either way, the Steelers winning the Samuel sweepstakes is a huge jump in the right direction, as they get both younger and better on a team that is desperate for a youth infusion. They had to add him to the 53-man roster to make sure no one stole him away, and now he can be in Pittsburgh for the long-term future. There may be questions about the team, but cornerback is not one of them.
What do you think about Tomlin's comments on Samuel? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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