Asante Samuel Jr

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		56	7	38	186
2025		6	1	1	10
2024		4	0	2	13
2023		17

Season	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT	PD	Grade
2025		6	10	0.0	1	—	D- D- Bottom 12%
2024		4	13	0.0	0	—	C- C- Below average
2023		17	63	0.0	2	—	B- B- Top 38%
2022		17	57	0.0	2	—	C C Around average
2021		12	43	0.0	2	—	B B Top 29%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Steelers secured solid value by locking up Asante Samuel Jr. at $2.6M per year, landing what amounts to a fair deal for a serviceable starter at cornerback. Samuel Jr. has established himself as a reliable piece in Pittsburgh's secondary, providing the kind of steady coverage you want from your CB2 without breaking the bank — this contract reflects appropriate market positioning for a player who handles his responsibilities without being a game-changer. At 26, he's entering his prime years as a defender, making this timing ideal for both player and franchise as he should maintain this level of production throughout the deal. The modest annual value gives Pittsburgh excellent roster flexibility while avoiding the premium costs associated with top-tier cornerbacks, though the unknown contract length creates some uncertainty around long-term planning. This B- CVI reflects a pragmatic move by the Steelers, addressing a key defensive need with a known commodity at a price point that allows them to allocate resources elsewhere while maintaining competent coverage in their secondary.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Asante's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Stacked against the CB field, Asante Samuel Jr. grades out at a B- performance level for Pittsburgh. Samuel Jr. occupies that difficult middle ground of professional competence without star-level impact — a 5-year veteran whose career arc has plateaued at "reliable depth" rather than ascending toward Pro Bowl consideration. His 2025 season: 10 tackles, 1 INT across 6 games reflects the limited snap opportunities of a depth cornerback, though the interception rate on minimal volume hints at occasional coverage savvy in his opportunities. The real weakness here is durability and volume: six games played signals either injury or benching, and the single interception across five seasons of play tells you he's more of a steady hand than a playmaker who changes games. Samuel Jr. enters 2026 on a modest one-year, $4M deal positioned as roster depth rather than a starter, a framing that aligns squarely with his production tier — the Steelers clearly value his familiarity with the system over expecting him to anchor the secondary. For a depth cornerback at age 26 with this production profile, a B- is fair: he's above the replacement-level noise, but his lack of Pro Bowl sniffs or dominant statistical stretches keeps him from reaching the upper-echelon tier of his position class.

How Asante Compares at the Position

Asante Samuel Jr ranks 80th of 270 graded cornerbacks by performance. That slots Asante between Eli Apple (B-) just ahead and Josh Jobe (B-) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Asante Samuel Jr. carries a C+ sentiment grade right now, with the conversation around his modest one-year, $4 million re-signing shaping the narrative as a pragmatic depth move rather than a marquee acquisition. The media has framed his return to Pittsburgh in refreshingly straightforward terms—not as a splash signing but as sensible continuity, with outlets crediting his familiarity in the Steelers' system as a low-risk insurance policy behind their top corners. This measured optimism contrasts notably with his C- performance grade, reflecting a gap between what fans expect from a veteran cornerback depth piece and what he produced in 2025: 10 tackles and one interception across six games. The timing of his re-signing alongside recent secondary additions like Jamin Davis and the pursuit of depth at receiver and tight end signals Pittsburgh's methodical, unglamorous approach to roster construction—moves that have resonated with fans as smart management rather than desperation. Samuel Jr. occupies that realistic middle ground where a reasonable investment meets appropriately modest expectations; the public isn't betting on All-Pro production from a $4M veteran, just reliable depth and professional reliability in the nickel rotation as the Steelers prepare for the regular season.