It's well known that Joey Porter Jr. and the Pittsburgh Steelers are at a contractual impasse, but one cornerback on the team's roster could greatly benefit from a potential holdout or rumored trade.
If Porter, for some reason, decides against playing out the final year of his rookie deal without a long-term extension in place, Asante Samuel Jr. should be more than ready to step up in his place.
Samuel had an excellent training camp and an even better preseason showing, proving to the Steelers that he's more than capable of serving as a Plan B in Porter's absence.
Drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Samuel played four seasons with the team but left in 2025. After undergoing spinal fusion surgery in April
2025 and getting cleared for football activities in November, Samuel signed with the Steelers' practice squad. Samuel was quickly called up to the 53-man roster and appeared in six regular-season games for the Steelers, as well as one playoff matchup.
Make no mistake, Porter is a talented cornerback and deserves every penny he'll get. But the Steelers have been hesitant to reset the already $30 million-plus cornerback market, and it appears Porter isn't backing down in contract negotiations either. Samuel offers the team a solution, and an elite one at that.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Joey Porter Jr. drama could be great news for 1 Steelers CB
