No Resolution Yet on Vikings Final Offseason Rumor
Five months ago, the Minnesota Vikings rumor mill turned white-hot over the possibility of signing free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.
The Vikings have yet to resolve their final offseason rumor, leaving fans waiting for clarity as theories continue to circulate heading into the 2025 season.
And then nothing happened — for Minnesota or Samuel Jr. personally.
It’s the last remaining Vikings rumor of the offseason still pending.
Vikings’ Final Rumor Mill Still Needs Resolution
Before too long, if good health prevails, Samuel Jr. will have a new team.
Asante Samuel Jr. Has Signed Nowhere in the NFL
ESPN reported in May, “Asante Samuel Jr., one of the top free agent cornerbacks of this year’s class, is waiting to sign with a new team after undergoing neck surgery in April, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.”
April was four months ago. Samuel Jr. hasn’t signed with a new team. So, the surgery either went poorly, or the man’s health is truly up in the air. Is there some sort of other issue? Is his price too high? Strange that he hasn’t signed somewhere.
While other cornerbacks like Stephon Gilmore, Rasul Douglas, and Kendall Fuller remain available on the free-agent wire, Samuel Jr. has the most upside. He’s 25 years old, a 2nd-Round pick from four years ago. If the Vikings, in theory, want him, Samuel Jr. is still gettable.
The Vikings Rumor Mill Connection in the Spring
The Samuel Jr. rumor mill gained momentum from an odd source: a popular Minnesota sports network, SKOR North, which primed the carburetor with a theory about Samuel Jr. wearing a Vikings hat at a Miami nightclub. Someone emailed the network, claiming their neighbor had spoken with Samuel Jr. at the club and inferred from the conversation that Samuel Jr. would sign in Minnesota.
That the rumor was even read aloud on live airwaves was utterly bizarre. But the Vikings’ cornerback need at the time — arguably still in effect — plus the general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s ardor for taking flyers on high-upside, low-cost players, made the theory believable.
And here we are, wondering if Samuel Jr. will sign with an NFL team before the start of the regular season and if Minnesota is even remotely in play.
Does Minnesota Still Need Samuel Jr.?
Minnesota will roll into the regular season in 3.5 weeks with some combination of these cornerbacks: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, Mekhi Blackmon, Dwight McGlothern, and Zemaiah Vaughn. That’s the CB group — or this site’s best guess at a 53-man roster facsimile.
Then, a debate ensues. Is that CB unit enough for a team with Super Bowl aspirations? Many believe Okudah’s career can be completely reclaimed with defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ tutelage. Others are skeptical.
Compared to Super Bowl contenders, the group lacks firepower, at least at a proven level. Therefore, onlookers wonder about high-upside performers like Samuel Jr.
The Upside
Samuel Jr. logged a wonderful 73.9 PFF grade the last time he played consistently, the 2023 season.
Here’s Samuel Jr.’s Pro Football Focus grading since 2021:
- 2021: 56.4
- 2022: 72.6
- 2023: 73.9
- 2024: 59.3
If Minnesota could sign Samuel Jr. and nudge him back to the 2022 and 2023 territory, everyone would win. It’s also worth noting that his next contract is virtually guaranteed to be affordable, probably a classic one-year “prove it” deal.
Other Fits?
A to Z Sports‘ Destin Adams claimed the Indianapolis Colts could be a fit for Samuel Jr.’s services.
He wrote this week, “Asante Samuel Jr. is the son of former NFL great Asante Samuel. The Los Angeles Chargers drafted Samuel Jr. in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He hit the road running as he recorded two interceptions in each of his first three seasons. Last year, however, his season was cut short after just four games due to a shoulder injury.”
“His medicals must worry teams for a promising CB who is still only 25 years old to still be a free agent in August. The Colts seem to be in a place where it could be worth rolling the dice to see if you can land a talented young CB to fill the massive hole injuries have created on their roster. He can also play outside and in the slot, which would make him an option to replace Moore II if he has to miss anytime to start the year.”
And Heavy.com‘s Matt Lombardo named the Philadelphia Eagles as a landing spot.
“Samuel Jr. is still working his way back from offseason neck surgery, but if he’s healthy, he’s the kind of player who should be on general manager Howie Roseman and Fangio’s radar. If Samuel Jr. is cleared to return to action for Week 1, signing a cornerback with six interceptions, 37 pass breakups, and 176 total tackles through his first four seasons since being chosen by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft could be a move that upgrades the talent in the Eagles’ secondary,” he explained.
“The Eagles could always look to work Cooper DeJean in on the perimeter opposite Mitchell or continue to hope Jackson or Ringo seize the starting job, but if the organization is looking to add help from the outside, Samuel Jr. is a solid fit.”
So, it’s apparent that Samuel Jr. will have a decent market if given a clean bill of health. Perhaps the Vikings’ longstanding rumor will get a verdict before too long.
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