Steven Nelson recently was released from the Pittsburgh Steelers after being asked not to be held hostage. The Steelers tried to trade Steven Nelson, but there were no offers for him due to his $8 million dollar salary in 2021. Although the Steelers have Cam Sutton and James Pierre the Steelers will be going into the 2021 NFL draft at the cornerback position very thin. It looks like the Steelers will be in the market for a new cornerback going forward into the future.
Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin, and defensive line coach Karl Dunbar recently attended FSU's Pro Day. The Steelers did show interest in many FSU players, but one player was seen shaking hands and meeting with Mike Tomlin. His name is CB Asante Samuels Jr who would be a great fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers if he is available when the Steelers draft.
Many are familiar with Two-Time Super Bowl Winning Asante Samuel Sr. who played in the NFL for the Patriots, Eagles, and Falcons. He had 51 interceptions in just 11 seasons tying Donnie Shell and Bobby Bryant for 32nd All-Time. Now his son Asante Samuel Jr. will enter the draft in 2021. Samuel Jr. has a dog mentality when he is on the football field. He is very athletic, feisty with terrific ball skills. Great on his feet and very fluid going backwards while guarding the wide receiver. It seems the Steelers and Mike Tomlin are showing interest in Asante Samuel Jr.
Normally the Steelers are not good with scouting cornerbacks during the draft process. In fact, the last time the Steelers have drafted a Pro Bowl cornerback in the NFL draft was Rod Woodson in 1987. Generally, you would cringe when the Steelers take a no-name cornerback in the first round of the NFL draft according to their track record lately. That could change if they draft Asante Samuel Jr.
"Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft would be with a team that operates a man coverage heavy scheme. There a number of cornerback needy teams this year, but I see some of his best fits as being with the Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, and New England Patriots. Those teams played a high percentage of man coverage in the 2020 NFL season."
"In his latest big board for Pro Football Network, Tony Pauline ranks Asante Samuel Jr. as the sixth-best cornerback prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. Pauline also gives him a borderline second to third-round grade. With an expected run on cornerbacks in the first round, there is a solid chance that Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. hears his name called early on the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft."
"That would comfortably emulate his father’s draft position. The outcome of his NFL career is in his own hands."