Steelers Still Have Legitimate Post-Trade Deadline Opportunity To Secure Huge Upgrade For The Defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers and rest of the National Football League saw an insane amount of drama on Tuesday. The New York Jets were the stars of the show, dealing several key playmakers prior to the deadline in return for a plethora of draft selections in future years. In the Steel City, General Manager Omar Khan stayed around lurking in the shadows until the final hour, but never ended up making any kind of significant move. The front office will still work to improve the roster if an opportunity presents itself, which is why the team's decision-makers may not be done working post-trade deadline.

The Steelers released a new depth chart on Tuesday, and a new development has officially come out of it. Jalen Ramsey looks to be in line to play at the free safety position more consistently. Newcomer Kyle Dugger, after performing well in his first contest with the organization following his acquisition from the New England Patriots, is set to be Ramsey's counterpart.

It appears as if Brandin Echols has done enough to earn the coaching staff's trust in the slot, while Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay are likely to be working on the outside. One of the issues with this setup, however, is that the veteran in Slay has not been very effective in 2025 as he plays on a one-year contract that he signed with the Steelers in the offseason.

The position is very light and while Ramsey will have the versatility to move around all over the defense, it would be wise for Pittsburgh to bring another name into the fold. A very prominent free agent remains on the market, as he recently was rehabbing after neck surgery. Pittsburgh loves NFL lineage, which is why Khan could already have had a discussion with a popular defensive player, whose dad also played professionally.

Asante Samuel Jr. would have been a high-ticket free agent if he had not had to undergo a neck procedure. The cornerback's name has gotten lost after it has taken some time for him to recover, with his initial timeline to re-connect with teams being set for back in July.

The Steelers certainly have a need, and it could trigger the front office bringing in a fascinating addition that, if healthy, could make the defense that much more formidable in the secondary.

Steelers Somehow May Need 1 More Splash To Find Consistency On Defense

Pittsburgh has the highest-paid defense in the NFL, and certainly played as such in games against the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, there have been some very ugly outings as well. If Samuel proves to be healthy and can contribute down the stretch, it could make a massive difference. He has secured six interceptions through four seasons, and that includes a 2024 campaign in which he only played four games.

Post-trade deadline improvements are very difficult to make, but there is a serious opportunity here for the Steelers. Samuel would not just add depth; he could legitimately find a starting role by the time the most important matchups of the season are being played. It shouldn't surprise fans if Khan and co. work to bring him in for a visit at the very least.

Do you think that the Steelers should attempt to sign Samuel? Let us know in the comments below!

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