The Pittsburgh Steelers have done a great job with some recent free-agent signings. The organization found great value in safety DeShon Elliott during the 2024 offseason, and he earned himself an extension during the 2025 offseason with his stellar play in 2024. Great free-agent signings that come with a ton of value are how great teams are built, and there is a chance Pittsburgh could have hit the jackpot again after a regular-season signing in 2025.
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Steelers' Omar Khan speaking on the phone ahead of a home game during the 2023 season.
Organizations are always trying to find players who have a high ceiling but not a high price tag. This usually happens when good or rising players suffer some sort of injury, which is something that has been seen with the Los Angeles Rams and inside linebacker Nate Landman.
He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Atlanta Falcons. He suffered some injuries in 2024, and he wound up signing for the veteran minimum with the Rams in 2025. He has had a great season in 2025, and he just inked a new extension that keeps him with the Rams for another three seasons.
Nate Landman is a great example for any player whose free agency doesn't work out as he hopes. He was coming off shoulder surgery after last season and wound up with the veteran minimum. But found a great team and great system and more than excelled.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 22, 2025
Now, he cashes in. https://t.co/F4ItgTht5f
Landman signed a three-year extension on Saturday that is worth a total of $22.5 million, which basically means the Rams did a great job finding value in a player that not many teams were giving attention to on the open market. He has played like one of the better inside linebackers in the league, and now the Rams are rewarding him. Pittsburgh be in this situation as well, except for the Steelers it would be in the secondary.
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.
Pittsburgh signed Asante Samuel Jr. to the practice squad not long ago, and this was after he was medically cleared after going through a significant back surgery during the 2025 offseason. His rookie deal with the Los Angeles Chargers expired after the 2024 season, and the cornerback was going to have a decent market in free agency prior to his back surgery.
Samuel was patient and waited to entertain signing with a team until he was medically cleared, and he signed with Pittsburgh after a visit. He has not made his debut yet, but if he plays well throughout the rest of the 2025 season the Steelers could extend him. That would mean the organization hit the jackpot in a similar fashion to the Rams with Landman. Samuel is a reclamation project at this point, but if he can play anywhere close to his old form that would be great news for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh would also have an advantage in getting a deal done with Samuel. He is with the organization now, so the franchise could get an extension done immediately after the season before free agency opens up. The cornerback has yet to make his debut, but if he plays well, a new deal should be a possibility.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Kyle Dugger gets involved on a tackle during a game against the Indianapolis Colts in 2025.
Steelers May Have Hit The Jackpot Elsewhere As Well
Pittsburgh also made a move to acquire safety Kyle Dugger right before the trade deadline. He is another extension candidate and he has already made a major impact with Pittsburgh. He came over from the New England Patriots after New England brought in a new regime that didn't necessarily have a spot to use Dugger properly. Pittsburgh was able to bring him over for cheap, and the franchise also voided the rest of his contract outside of the 2025 season. A new deal could be agreed to following the 2025 season, which would be another example of a great addition for the organization.
Do you think any of Pittsburgh's mid-season additions will see new deals? Let us know in the comments below!
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