Cornerback Asante Samuel is one of the top players remaining on the free agent market, but he won’t find a new team anytime soon. A second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Florida State product was one of the few consistent defensive players in the short-lived Brandon Staley Era. With head coach Jim Harbaugh taking over in 2024, the cornerback had the opportunity to have a career season under a proven coach.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, as a season-ending neck injury limited him to just four games. While he is healthy enough to visit organizations, he’s not quite ready to sign. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Asante Samuel recently completed a free agent visit with the New Orleans Saints, but his current plan is to wait until an early July neck checkup to sign with a team. Assuming the checkup goes well, the cornerback could sign with any interested organization.
REPORT: Free Agent Asante Samuel Waiting to Sign With New Team
It’s easy to see why the New Orleans Saints could target a free agent like Asante Samuel. After trading Marshon Lattimore and losing Paulson Adebo to the New York Giants, this team needs someone capable of starting opposite second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry. Samuel is a great buy-low option who could sign a mutually-beneficial one-year deal to re-establish his value following his injury-plagued 2024. However, the Saints probably won’t be the only team interested in his services. Assuming he’s healthy in July, the following organizations could fight for his services.
Other Fits
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have an elite offense powered by players like Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, but that won’t matter if they can’t fix the defense. While the Trey Hendrickson drama highlights their tumultuous offseason, they need someone who can cover receivers long enough for Hendrickson and the front seven to reach the quarterback. If he recaptures his old form, Asante Samuel could be a great free agent signing to boost the secondary for a team that should have Super Bowl aspirations.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have two reliable starting cornerbacks in veteran Marlon Humphrey and 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins. This duo would be enough for most teams, but Baltimore could use a third reliable starter. The Ravens hope to win it all in 2025, and they’ll need to build a defense capable of stopping high-powered offenses like the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens have come inches away from the Super Bowl in each of the past two seasons, and Samuel could be the missing piece for this unit.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have one of the biggest competitive advantages in football: a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract. C.J. Stroud didn’t recapture his 2023 form last year, but he’s still the unquestioned future of the organization. Unfortunately, the former second-overall pick will struggle to consistently move the ball behind a disastrous offensive line. This team needs a strong defense to compensate for this glaring weakness, and Asante Samuel should be able to help as a free agent.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – Imagn Images
