Steelers Encouraged To Bring 2 Key Defensive Players Back In Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for the NFL's free agency period, kicking off on March 9th at 12:00 PM ET. There will be many opportunities for the Steelers to improve on both sides of the ball, while other players already here will end up leaving for other teams. The Steelers will have to be smart about which players they decide to keep or let go, and with speculation surrounding the moves the team will make, this sets up for one of the more interesting free agency periods the Steelers have seen in a long time.

Some of the questions surrounding the Steelers in free agency are on the defensive side of the ball. Very important players on defense on the 2025 team are now impending free agents, and arguments are being made on whether they should be allowed to test the market or be extended. However, two of them are important enough that some argue for the Steelers to ensure they keep both of them into 2026 and beyond. 

On Monday afternoon, former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex and former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch went live on their show, The Snap Count, to discuss free agency and who Pittsburgh should prioritize keeping over others. When discussing which players the team should keep, Essex went on record.

"I think, when you have two young DBs in James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr., who are going to be relatively cheap, you don't let them hit the market," Essex said. "I think you try to keep both of them. Because, with those three, because you already got Brandin Echols under contract, if you keep James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr., and you got [Joey Porter Jr.] that you got to sign to a long-term deal, and these guys are gonna be relatively cheap, I think that's one position group you can lock up and not have to worry about for the rest of the offseason."

Essex's comment about locking up the entire cornerback room stands out, as it would be incredibly advantageous for the Steelers to be able to move onto other position groups on the team of more importance. With how cornerbacks James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. played during the 2025 season, especially in the late portion of the regular season, the Steelers have a relatively easy decision to make on their impending futures.

Essex also mentions that Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will be in line to sign a long-term extension with the team. With an extension for Porter Jr. seeming inevitable, it makes sense for the team to also ensure both Pierre and Samuel Jr. are taken care of as well. With how well Porter Jr. played last season, the Steelers will likely have to end up giving him a huge pay day, or else another team might want to acquire his services.

The Steelers could be largely set on the defensive side of the ball should they take the route Essex mentioned in his comments. Sure, they'll have to figure out other key contributors at other positions on defense, but being able to ensure the defensive back room on the outside is set for the future would be a massive advantage to the team.

Steelers Should Make Cornerback Top Priority

Even with how many important players the Steelers will end up making decisions on, the decisions on Pierre and Samuel Jr. should be fairly straightforward. With how well they each played last season as mentioned, and with how dominant Porter Jr. is becoming, ensuring stability in one of the most important position groups on defense would go a long way to setting the team up for success.

What did you think about Essex's comments on re-signing Pierre and Samuel Jr. while also extending Porter Jr? Follow us for more!

#SteelerNation