The Pittsburgh Steelers head into the offseason with a huge question mark regarding their secondary. They have impending free agents James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. testing the market heading into the 2026 offseason. They’ll have a choice to make: whether they want to pay their productive corners from last year, or sign a different free agent for the job. The Steelers are now linked to a highly effective corner coming off a breakout year. The corner won a Super Bowl and showed out on the biggest stage for the champs.
AP Photo / Ben VanHouten
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe runs with the football after intercepting a pass during an NFL game.
CBS NFL Analyst John Breech linked a Seattle Seahawks DB to the Steelers.
“They could go raid the Seahawks coming off the Super Bowl win. Josh Jobe is set to be a free agent,” Breech explained.
The fourth-year corner had an official breakout season, starting 15 games for the champs after starting only six in 2024. Jobe was targeted 91 times and only allowed a completion percentage of 49.5%. The corner tallied 54 total tackles and 12 pass deflections, too. He proved to be an effective member of the Seahawks' defense and is set to be an intriguing option for any team looking for a young corner with a ton of upside.
The Steelers are looking to add some help in the secondary with Pierre and Samuel hitting the market. Joey Porter Jr. needs a solid piece on the other side of him, and Jobe would add another dimension to the Steelers' defense. Jobe excelled under Seattle's defense; he was a depth piece for the Philadelphia Eagles in the first two years of his career. Jobe was an UDFA out of Alabama. After two seasons in Philly, he was waived in 2024 and then signed with Seattle. Seattle realized his potential and gave him an expanded role in 2025. Jobe's potential was unlocked, and the physical corner was a huge part of the elite Seahawks unit.
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Cornerback Josh Jobe during his time at Alabama.
Steelers’ Secondary Needs Someone Besides Joey Porter Jr.
Porter Jr. had a truly elite season for the Steelers last season. The third-year corner extended his streak of not allowing a touchdown and had career highs in rating allowed and yards per completion allowed. Porter was a true lockdown corner for the Steelers and now brings up the decision of who should be lining up next to him in the other cornerback spots. Brandin Echols is still under contract for the 2026 season and will be a solid piece for the unit. Jalen Ramsey, who played some corner and some safety for the Steelers last year, will be an option to play some corner, but will more than likely be in his same unorthodox hybrid position. The Steelers need to get a clear-cut corner to add alongside Porter, and that very well could be Jobe or Tariq Woolen.
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, ОН.
The Steelers have 12 picks in the NFL Draft that could very well be used on a cornerback. Their secondary has a ton of uncertainty from both the cornerback and safety spots in the secondary, and the team would be wise to use their many picks on those positions. A player in the draft that the Steelers have been linked to is Tennessee Volunteers’ Colton Hood. Hood would most likely be available with the Steelers' first-round pick (21) and could be a great young addition to the secondary. Hood excelled at Tennessee, where he was tenth in the SEC in pass deflections (8). Hood has similar qualities to Porter; long speed, ball skills, and zone coverage are areas in which Hood excels. Whether the Steelers use free agency or the NFL Draft to address the cornerback position, the position needs to be upgraded. If the Steelers can't re-sign either of their top free agent corners, they need to take a look at guys such as the ones mentioned previously. The Steelers will take a deep look at a running mate for their star in Porter Jr.
Who should the Steelers draft or sign at corner? Let us know below.
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