The Pittsburgh Steelers' extremely busy offseason did not slow down on Monday. As the NFL's legal tampering period began, the team was quickly in the middle of a lot of breaking news. The team is now set to acquire wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts and also received word that they would be losing a breakout cornerback from 2025. James Pierre was announced to be signing with the Minnesota Vikings for two years, $8.5 million. The departure, however, should not cause panic per a Steelers insider.
Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press
Steelers cornerback James Pierre defending Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen in a game in the 2025 NFL season.
Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had his weekly chat on Monday and made some comments regarding the situation. Pierre came on strong in 2025 and had a breakout year in the Steel City. In fact, his 2025 performance earned him the second-highest grade amongst NFL cornerbacks overall according to Pro Football Focus, behind just Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks.
"I'm sure [the Steelers] liked the way he played last season when called upon at corner after years of special teams work, but I know Danny Smith was one of his biggest backers in the building and he's gone," Batko said. "He's getting a two-year deal, more money and, I assume, more guaranteed cash than Asante Samuel Jr. Also keep in mind that Pierre is going to Minnesota, where Brian Flores and Gerald Alexander are. Alexander was his DBs coach last season."
While Pierre's breakout performance in 2025 could have Steeler Nation feeling like they're missing out now, news also broke that the team is re-signing Asante Samuel Jr. The team is also receiving attention due to their 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft next month in Pittsburgh, PA. With the team already addressing wide receiver in free agency and the depth of the wide receiver draft class, one of their picks can be used for a younger cornerback to solidify the position heading into 2026.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Asante Samuel Jr. during a practice in his first weeks with the organization in 2025.
The team's acquisition of Pittman can allow them to focus less on upgrading the wide receiver room and shifting that attention elsewhere, such as cornerback. The organization also holds three third-round picks in April, so they may end up finding themselves selecting one cornerback to replace Pierre as well as a third wide receiver to team up with Pittman and DK Metcalf. The flexibility the team has heading into the draft makes room for them to make vast improvements ahead of the 2026 season.
Steelers Are Absolutely In Win-Now Mode
The Black and Gold have made it clear that they do not want to commit to rebuilding, and instead look like a franchise more focused on re-tooling while getting back to winning quickly in 2026. While Pierre had a real break out campaign in 2025, Pittsburgh will be fine so long as they are proactive in their attack of NFL free agency and the upcoming draft in which they are hosting. The team has found itself stuck in an extended playoff drought and the front office has received a lot of backlash from it both on and off the field. The recent poor report card grades of team facilities by player polled following the 2025 season has left the franchise looking for answers beyond just the roster.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. and James Pierre celebrate after a big time turnover during the 2025 NFL season.
Pittsburgh has a chance to truly turn things around quickly as they approach 2026. While they did lose Pierre, the proactive approach to quickly go out and acquire Pittman is a great sign for the future of the franchise. With the news of Pierre signing in Minnesota, that approach should continue seeing as how they were proactive with acquiring Pittman. This adaptive mindset can put the Steelers right back in a great position, and one that is favorable for their long-term future.
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