The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their first external free agent signing of 2026. After trading for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Pittsburgh has made a splash on the defensive side of the ball.
The Steelers are signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean to a three-year, $36.75 million deal, per Ian Rapoport.
Dean helped the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl back in 2020, and has been one of the NFL’s most consistent cornerbacks over the last seven years. He has 11
career interceptions, and had arguably his best season in 2025. Dean allowed a passer rating of just 41.3 when targeted, a catch percentage of just 43 percent, and picked off three passes. He now joins Joey Porter Jr, Asante Samuel, Jalen Ramsey, and Brandin Echols in a very strong cornerback room in Pittsburgh.
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