That Sexy Vikings Rumor … May Actually Be True
The Minnesota Vikings entered the month of April with Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern on the depth chart as playable cornerbacks in 2025.
That Sexy Vikings Rumor … May Actually Be True
That fivesome could do the trick in a pinch, but with the NFL draft three weeks away and five months of free agency left until Week 1, some expect general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to add at least one more cornerback.
So, rumors surfaced last week, suggesting that man could be Los Angeles Chargers corner Asante Samuel Jr. At first glance, the rumor seemed suspicious, but as it turns out, it may be true after all, two sources tell VikingsTerritory.
The Asante Samuel Jr. Rumor from SKOR North
Advanced a few days ago on SKOR North‘s Purple Daily program, host Phil Mackey outlined an anonymous tip from an audience member. The “reckless speculation” tidbit claimed somebody’s neighbor at a Miami nightclub caught up with Samuel Jr., a free agent, wearing a Vikings hat, and that the young cornerback claimed he’d sign with the team after the draft.
Here’s the SKOR North segment:
Pretty wacky, right? Not necessarily.
What Sources Tell VikingsTerritory
VikingsTerritory checked with two sources who typically provide accurate intel — with roughly an 80% track record of success — and neither dismissed the Samuel Jr. fodder.
One said, “I believe that rumor.”
The other replied via text, “Most rumors are bogus, but I wouldn’t say that about this one.”
For context, the first source informed VikingsTerritory about the extent of T.J. Hockenson’s 2023 ACL tear a few days before it went public.
Implication for 2025 Vikings Defense
Without Samuel Jr., the Vikings’ defense played admirably in 2024, ranking second in the business per DVOA behind only the Philadelphia Eagles, a club that won the Super Bowl over the Kansas City Chiefs. In other words, Minnesota doesn’t utterly need Samuel Jr., but another youthful cornerback in the pipeline would harm no one.
With Samuel Jr., the starting cornerbacks might look like this:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Asante Samuel Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
And the reservist players:
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jeff Okudah
- Dwight McGlothern
It’s worth nothing that any additional offseason cornerback additions for the purple team could jeopardize McGlothern’s 2025 roster spot, a man for whom some fans hold rather high hopes.
Drafting a CB Ruled Out?
If the Vikings exit the 2025 NFL Draft — it’s only three weeks away — without a promising young corner, onlookers should fully expect Samuel Jr. to turn purple. Otherwise, Jaire Alexander could hit the open market before too long.
Sans Samuel Jr., Adofo-Mensah could turn his draft attention to corners like Jahdae Barron, Shavon Revel Jr., or Maxwell Hairston, to name a few rookie candidates.
Asante Samuel Sr.’s Overlap with Brian Flores in New England
If Samuel Jr. joins the Vikings’ roster, his direct boss will be Brian Flores. Samuel Jr.’s father, Asante Samuel Sr., played for the New England Patriots from 2003 to 2007, and Flores worked as a scout for the Patriots during the timeframe.
Moreover, Samuel Sr. — the dad — and Flores were born seven weeks apart. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was born eight months later. Samuel Sr., Flores, and Adofo-Mensah were all born in 1981.
And Samuel Sr. was born in Ghana, which is where Adofo-Mensah’s family emigrated from to New Jersey in the 1970s.
Other Samuel Jr. Theories
Last month, ProFootballTalk.com‘s Michael David Smith wrote about a Samuel Jr. visit with the Arizona Cardinals: “Free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. took a trip to Arizona on Thursday. The Cardinals hosted Samuel on a visit, according to Field Yates of ESPN.”
“Samuel has spent his entire career with the Chargers, who selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. When healthy he has been a starter, but last year he played in only four games because of a shoulder injury. That shoulder may be why the interest in him hasn’t been as strong as expected since free agency started this week.”
Before the start of free agency, SportsGrid‘s Grant White predicted Minnesota as Samuel Jr.’s eventual landing spot: “Asante Samuel Jr.’s season was far from flawless, marred by injuries and inconsistencies, yet his track record and veteran savvy remain highly attractive to franchises seeking cornerback talent in free agency. What he’s already accomplished should ensure some real interest. Predicted Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings.”
Samuel Jr. is 25 and missed 13 games last year because of a shoulder injury.
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