With Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?
Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Samuel and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.
According to PFF, they are projecting that Samuel will land a three-year deal with $43.5 million. This includes $26.5 million guaranteed.
Samuel is coming off a contract year where he missed all but four games due to a shoulder injury. He had 13 tackles and two passes defended in 2024.
Selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Florida State, Samuel made a significant impact from the start of his professional career.
From his rookie campaign to 2023, Samuel shined in coverage, amassing over 10 breakups and two interceptions in each of those seasons.
While his ball skills have been a strength of his game, Samuel has struggled as an open-field tackler.
The case could be made for the Chargers to re-sign Samuel, as he’s an asset in coverage and is only 25 years old.
On the flip side, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter requires good tacklers on the backend, and the cornerback room got great production from Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still when they were thrust into starting roles.