The Los Angeles Chargers had one of the league’s better defenses in 2024, and they largely did it without former second-round pick Asante Samuel Jr. Selected in 2021 under former head coach Brandon Staley, the Florida State product was one of the bright spots on those Chargers teams, establishing himself as a reliable starter on an otherwise-weak defense. With a superior coach in Jim Harbaugh taking over, Samuel had the opportunity to hit the open market on a high note.
Instead, injuries limited him to four games, and he didn’t play particularly well when on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Samuel finished the season with a 59.3 overall grade, which would have been the 84th-best mark in the league if he had enough snaps to qualify. Perhaps this is just a small sample extrapolation, but the second-round pick might not be a fit for Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s scheme.
Asante Samuel recently said he wants to sign a contract with the Chargers, but the feeling might not be mutual. Los Angeles might let him go, or offer him a one-year, prove-it deal. If that happens, don’t be surprised if the cornerback leaves for a better opportunity with a team like the Carolina Panthers or New Orleans Saints.
Asante Samuel Jr Wants to Re-Sign With Chargers, Could Leave For Better Contract With Panthers, Saints
The main goal for the 2024 Carolina Panthers was to fix their offense. That mission was a success, as the offensive line is great, the young playmakers showed promise as rookies, and former first-overall pick Bryce Young played like a franchise quarterback down the stretch. Now, it’s time to build a team that can compete for the playoffs, and that starts with fixing the defense. Carolina’s defense ranked at or near the bottom of every metric last year, and signing a player like Asante Samuel to a respectable contract could help fix the issue.
Samuel won’t fix every issue on this team, but he won’t have to. Former first-round pick Jaycee Horn finally stayed healthy in 2024 and made the Pro Bowl, proving he has the talent to be a legitimate boundary cornerback. Taking Asante Samuel from the Chargers and pairing him with Horn and potentially Mike Jackson should give the Panthers three starting-caliber defensive backs without breaking the bank. This will allow the organization to spend big on the defensive line and perhaps land superstar Micah Parsons in a trade.
Pennies on the Dollar
The New Orleans Saints enter the offseason in a familiar situation. Despite Drew Brees calling it a career in 2020, General Manager Mickey Loomis refuses to rebuild and continues to restructure contracts while pushing his chips to the center of the table. This continuous state of going ‘all-in’ and effectively putting band-aids on a gaping wound has led to an incomplete roster with too many holes and not enough available resources. Seeing as Loomis isn’t likely to change his way of thinking, he’ll need to get creative to build a playoff-caliber roster.
With limited financial resources, Loomis must buy low and hope to find diamonds in the rough, and stealing Asante Samuel from the Chargers could be the best way to get starting-caliber play for pennies on the dollar. Marshon Lattimore is in Washington and impending free agent Paulson Adebo may be too expensive to retain, so New Orleans needs another starter. Samuel and second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry won’t make anyone forget about the Legion of Boom, but they’re good enough for a weak NFC South.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
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