Asante Samuel Jr. is a free agent after playing his first four seasons for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Green Bay Packers didn’t trade for any cornerback ahead of the deadline, but that does not mean general manager Brian Gutekunst is not considering reinforcing the defensive backfield. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Packers will host free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on a visit.
The Jets teardown is complete and they are now LOADED with draft capitalThe Jets teardown is complete and they are now LOADED with draft capital
The Packers want Asante Samuel Jr., but they are not alone
Samuel underwent spinal fusion surgery in April and has recently been cleared for football activities. Even though the Packers are considering adding Samuel, it won’t be without competition. Schultz mentioned that Samuel’s first visit will be with the Carolina Panthers.
In addition to them, the Packers’ NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, are also expected to host Samuel on a free agent visit.
Samuel was considered one of the top free agent cornerbacks in March, but hasn’t signed yet due to his neck injury. Now that he’s healthy again, it makes sense for teams to check his situation — and for the player to go on multiple visits to drive more interest and his price up if possible.
Despite being 5-10, Samuel is primarily a boundary corner, which is exactly what the Packers roster needs. Throughout his NFL career, Samuel has played 2,780 snaps outside and only 40 in the slot. He’s not a good tackler or run defender, but his coverage ability could be highly impactful for a defense that has struggled when pressure doesn’t get home.
With Nate Hobbs expected to miss at least two games, the Packers have only four other cornerbacks on the active 53-man roster — Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, and Kamal Hadden. Melton and Hadden have combined for zero regular-season defensive snaps in the NFL. The team also has undrafted rookie Tyron Herring on the practice squad.
