Vikings Again Linked to Hot Shot Free Agent

Asante Samuel Jr. and Justin Jefferson in 2023.
Nov 14, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) grabs a long pass as Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) moves in to breakup the play in the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images.

It’s a rumor that has lasted over three months — cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings have once again been linked to Asante Samuel Jr., the latest in an offseason stuffed to the gills with the same theory. It’s the latest in the rumor mill that never sleeps.

The theory has sketchy origins, mainly because it involved a game of telephone with somebody’s neighbor and was advanced by the crew over at SKOR North.

Yet, Samuel Jr. should sign somewhere before too long if given a full medical green light, and CBS Sports claimed this week that the Vikings represent a wise landing spot for the 25-year-old.

Vikings, Asante Samuel Jr. Rumors Persist

CBS Sports did the honors this week, keeping Samuel Jr. to Minnesota alive and well.

Asante Samuel Jr. reacts after the Chargers' Wild Card loss to the Jaguars. Samuel Jr. has lived in the Vikings rumor mill in the 2025 offseason.
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback A. Samuel Jr. (26) reacts following the team’s 31–30 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card game on January 14, 2023, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.

Vikings Named a Landing Spot for Asante Samuel Jr.

CBS Sports‘ Tyler Sullivan sized up the most sensible destinations for the ex-Los Angeles Charger, and Minnesota was included.

He wrote, “The Vikings surrendered 239.8 passing yards per game last season, which was the fourth highest in the league. This offseason, they saw the secondary take a hit with the departures of cornerback Stephon Gilmore (15 starts in 2024) along with safety Camryn Bynum in free agency.”

“They did sign outside corners Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah earlier this offseason, but neither of them is a sure thing. Rodgers started in just three of his 19 games played for the Philadelphia Eagles (including playoffs), while Okudah was limited to six games (zero starts) with the Houston Texans in 2024 due to injury.”

If fully healthy, adding Samuel Jr. would act as a phenomenal cake-topper to the Vikings’ heavy-hitting offseason.

“Bringing Samuel in would give the Vikings another opportunity to hit on a low-cost veteran free agent who helps maintain Brian Flores’ defense as one of the top in the NFL,” Sullivan concluded.

A Longstanding Offseason Rumor

This theory has ruminated in the purple rumor mill since March.

An anonymous source claimed to have spotted Samuel Jr. at a Florida nightclub wearing a Vikings hat, and believe it or not, that’s where the rumor grew legs.

Asante Samuel Jr. enters the field before the Chargers’ game vs. the Bills.
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) takes the field before kickoff against the Buffalo Bills on December 23, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

And when Minnesota did not draft a cornerback in April, well, the rumor mill just never died.

And here we are, less than three weeks before training camp, with CBS Sports articles naming Minnesota as a Samuel Jr. landing spot.

The CB Room with Samuel Jr.

If this thing actually materialized, Minnesota’s cornerback corps would look like this in 2025:

  • Byron Murphy Jr.
  • Asante Samuel Jr.
  • Isaiah Rodgers
  • Mekhi Blackmon
  • Jeff Okudah
  • Dwight McGlothern

Most fans would approve of the group.

Samuel Sr. Causing Rifts

Meanwhile, Samuel Jr.’s father, Asante Samuel Sr., did his son no favors last week from a Vikings standpoint.

He hopped on someone’s podcast and decided to call Hall of Famer Cris Carter “overrated,” insisting the Vikings legend was just a “possession receiver.”

Asante Samuel Jr. and Derwin James pose with Raiders players after the game.
Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) and safety Derwin James Jr. (3) pose postgame with Raiders defenders Janarius Robinson (97) and Amari Gainer (53) on September 8, 2024, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Samuel Sr. and Carter didn’t even play in the same era.

Cardinals, Raiders Also on the Samuel Jr. List

Sullivan also mentioned the Arizona Cardinals as a Samuel Jr. landing spot: “Arizona has used second-round picks in each of the past two NFL Drafts to bring in corners. Max Melton came to town in 2024 but started just three games as a rookie. Meanwhile, the Cardinals drafted Will Johnson in the second round this past spring out of Michigan. Johnson’s talent made him a first-round caliber prospect, but his stock dipped due to injury concerns.

“At just 25 years old at the start of this season, Samuel Jr. would still bring youth to the position group, but also some much-needed starting experience as well.”

Asante Samuel Jr. reacts after a missed Texans field goal vs. the Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) reacts after Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (7) misses a field goal during first-half action on October 2, 2022, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports.

The Las Vegas Raiders got some love, too: “Third-round rookie Darien Porter could factor into one of the starting spots on the boundary, but there’s not much promise beyond that. The Raiders did sign Eric Stokes in March, but given that it’s simply a one-year, $4 million deal, he shouldn’t be looked at as a lock to be a bona fide starter.”

“Similar to Minnesota, adding Samuel Jr. would give the Raiders another dice roll as they look for stability in the secondary. And they’ll need it playing in an AFC West division that consists of Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix.”

If given a clean bill of health, Samuel Jr. will likely sign with a new team in the next three weeks.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily ... More about Dustin Baker