ESPN Names Overlooked Steelers Addition as Key Offseason Move

Cornerback Jamel Dean expected to bolster Pittsburgh's secondary after signing three-year deal.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:52pm

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The Pittsburgh Steelers made a concerted effort to improve their secondary in free agency, signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean to a three-year, $36.75 million contract. ESPN's Aaron Schatz believes Dean, who led the NFL in cornerback coverage DVOA last season, should be receiving more attention as a key offseason addition for the Steelers.

Why it matters

The Steelers' secondary was an area of concern last season, and the team has worked to address it through free agency. Dean's arrival is expected to provide a significant boost, as he was one of the league's top-performing cornerbacks in 2025 based on advanced metrics.

The details

Dean allowed a league-low 46.9 passer rating against him last season and gave up just one touchdown reception. Quarterbacks completed only 46.3% of passes thrown his way. The Steelers also brought back Asante Samuel Jr., who played six games for them in 2025 and had an interception.

  • Dean signed a three-year, $36.75 million deal with the Steelers in March 2026.
  • Dean led the NFL in cornerback coverage DVOA in the 2025 season.

The players

Jamel Dean

A former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback who signed a three-year, $36.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.

Asante Samuel Jr.

A cornerback who played six games for the Steelers in 2025 and had an interception.

Aaron Schatz

An ESPN analyst who believes Dean should be receiving more attention as a key offseason addition for the Steelers.

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What they’re saying

“Dean led the NFL in my cornerback coverage DVOA metric last season, ahead of superstars such as Derek Stingley Jr. and Quinyon Mitchell.”

— Aaron Schatz, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

“Cornerback statistics are notoriously inconsistent from season to season, so you can't count on Dean to have another outstanding season in 2026. But he was above average in 2024 as well and will turn 30 years old in October.”

— Aaron Schatz, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The Steelers will be hoping that Dean can continue his strong play and help solidify their secondary as they look to improve on their 2025 season.

The takeaway

The Steelers' signing of Jamel Dean is an under-the-radar move that could pay big dividends for their defense in 2026. Dean's elite coverage skills and experience make him a valuable addition to a secondary that struggled at times last season.