Vikings Fans Turn to “The Big Rumor”
Whether the Minnesota Vikings need an extra cornerback on the current roster is debatable.
Vikings Fans Turn to “The Big Rumor”
The team has about five playable options at the position after the 2025 NFL Draft, and that could do the trick.
However, with the draft in the rearview, Vikings fans have turned attention to cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., a free agent, wondering if the longstanding rumors about his rumored arrangement with Minnesota are real.
There should be a verdict before too long, but here’s the skinny.
Fruition — or Not — of the Asante Samuel Jr. Rumor
About a month ago, SKOR North ran with a rumor in its “Reckless Speculation” segment that suggested Samuel Jr. could be on his way to the Vikings after the draft.
The rumor’s origins were a bit shaky — an anonymous tipper told the network that his/her neighbor had seen Samuel Jr. at a Florida nightclub wearing a Vikings hat, prompting an alleged conversation. The free-agent defender then supposedly told the person that he’d sign with Minnesota after the draft when a deal would not cancel one of Minnesota’s compensatory draft picks in 2026.
Typically, such a rumor could be ignored, but VikingsTerritory‘s sources told the website that the theory wasn’t necessarily inaccurate. “I believe that,” one source replied.
Recent Health Concern Fodder
Earlier this month, NFL Network‘s Mike Garafolo detailed concerns on Samuel Jr.’s health, noting a shoulder and neck ailment that is evidently quite serious.
Garofolo told an Arizona Cardinals podcast: “It’s a medical thing. I’ve heard that from teams. It’s a medical concern for him. If not, he’d be signed. He’s young enough, and he’s got enough ability. It is a medical thing for him. It’s a shoulder/neck — I don’t have the full details in front of me. He mentioned that right before the start of free agency somewhere. So, everybody at that point, sort of knew it was at that point.”
“For him to come in, there’s not a signing immediately, certainly an indication there is a red flag there. Not just for him but for a few teams. We’ll see how it plays out. He was a terrific young player when healthy. I would love to see him get a second chance to play in the NFL if he gets that medical clearance.”
Samuel Jr. worked out for Arizona in March.
Garafolo added, “To be determined. I haven’t heard anything lately on that, but I know it was a medical thing that was really pausing his free agency.”
No CBs Drafted by Vikings
Meanwhile, many purple fans thought Minnesota would draft a cornerback this week — perhaps even in Round 1 — but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did no such thing. In fact, the Vikings drafted no cornerbacks whatsoever.
If one disregards the Garafolo reporting about Samuel Jr., no drafted corners by Minnesota would seem to hint at a free-agent contract around the bend.
Otherwise, Adofo-Mensah may be totally content with his current batch of CBs.
PFF and PRA History
Here’s Samuel Jr.’s Pro Football Focus history through four NFL seasons:
- 2021: 56.4
- 2022: 72.6
- 2023: 73.9
- 2024: 59.3
It’s worth noting that Samuel Jr. played just 234 total snaps last season.
And his passer-rating-against marks since 2021:
- 2021: 89.6
- 2022: 87.4
- 2023: 95.3
- 2024: 96.8
The Would-Be CB Room with Asante Samuel Jr.
If Minnesota brushed aside injury concerns or if Samuel Jr. is healthier than what has hit the digital stratosphere, adding him from free agency would create this cornerback corps for Minnesota:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Asante Samuel Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jeff Okudah
- Dwight McGlothern
A Samuel Jr. contract would also probably force a player like McGlothern, a 2024 undrafted free agent find, to the practice squad in 2025.
This late in free agency, any team can probably sign Samuel Jr. at an affordable price.
Options without Samuel Jr.
Suppose Samuel Jr. is not on the table for Minnesota due to the shoulder/neck problem. Recently released cornerback Jack Jones has not been signed after the Las Vegas Raiders cut ties a few weeks ago. Minnesota had a strong interest in Jones during the lead-up to the 2022 NFL Draft and during the 2023 regular season when the New England Patriots cut him.
Green Bay Packers corner Jaire Alexander could be released before too long, too.
And last year’s veteran corners from the Vikings’ roster, Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin, are unemployed as of April 26th.
Minnesota, as well, could simply enjoy its current bunch sans Samuel Jr., Jones, Alexander, Gilmore, or Griffin.
Samuel Jr. will turn 26 this autumn, and if Adofo-Mensah wishes to sign him free of compensatory draft pick reservations, he can do so as early as Monday afternoon.
The Vikings Have Done It Again
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