Steelers May Be Preparing To Part Ways As A Trade Is Likely On The Horizon

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have some tough roster decisions to make by the time the end of training camp comes around, but that is a sign of the franchise having a good amount of talent. There are going to be battles for spots on the depth chart at a bunch of different positions, and that includes cornerback. The top two spots in that room are already solidified, but when it comes to depth, the Steelers will be watching a couple of players closely. A rookie like Daylen Everette could make things difficult for the coaching staff, and a good training camp from him could create some interesting decisions.

Everette was kind of overlooked as a third-round pick out of Georgia, but he has turned some heads throughout offseason activities. It is expected that he will be in contention for the third spot at outside cornerback right behind Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean. He has plenty of experience from his time in college and that could ease the transition to the pros for the young player, which could help him become a contributor early on in his career. He is expected to be battling veteran Asante Samuel Jr. for that third cornerback spot.

Beat writer Mark Kaboly has been one of the people discussing how good Everette has looked. He was on 93.7 The Fan on Monday morning, and he spoke about this competition. He mentioned that Samuel could be traded near the end of training camp.

"Well, if there's anybody, if you wanna save a couple bucks and you don't see him fitting in, I would think one of those late August 28th cuts would be Samuel," Kaboly said. "Not cuts, I would trade him for a fifth- or sixth-round pick. Depending on how Everette pans out in the month of August. You'd like to keep him, but do you have to keep him?"

Kaboly has been mentioning for a while now that Samuel could be one of the players that doesn't make the cut. The organization could save a little bit of money by moving on from him, but his experience and skill set are valuable. Looking for a trade at the end of training camp might make some sense if Everette continues to excel. 

Pittsburgh signed Samuel in the middle of the 2025 season after he was medically cleared. He was supposed to be a top free agent during the 2025 offseason, but he had a serious back injury that required surgery. He played well in the second half of the season for Pittsburgh, and the organization wound up re-signing him before free agency began during the 2026 offseason.

Samuel should expect a decent challenge from Everette. The rookie got more exposure than expected during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp as Porter was there but did not participate due to his contract situation. Dean also rested during some practices, which meant more reps against the starting offense for the rookie. It is trial by fire, and he has impressed so far.

Steelers Have To Consider Trading Asante Samuel Jr.

Pittsburgh has a pretty deep cornerback group, and that is something that is hard to come by in the NFL. The franchise shouldn't be looking to break it up, but if the organization can save some money and bring in some draft capital by dealing Samuel, it has to be considered. Kaboly mentioned a fifth- or sixth-round pick in exchange for Samuel. If Pittsburgh can bring in a fifth-round pick for the cornerback it should be a no-brainer. That has to be done, especially if Everette continues on this path.

What do you think about dealing Samuel? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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