Latest NFL development is the hope Packers need to address big roster issue for the rest of the season
Asante Samuel Jr. is the best available cornerback in free agency, and now he’s getting closer to his return to the field.
The Green Bay Packers have a challenging situation at cornerback, which was accentuated by a new knee injury for Nate Hobbs. A new alternative could have just emerged, though, and that goes beyond Tuesday’s trade deadline. Former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. has just been cleared to return to football activities.
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, Samuel, who “underwent spinal fusion surgery in April, has been cleared for football activities and plans to make free agency visits as soon as this week.”
Samuel makes sense for the Packers
Samuel will now evaluate his options, but it’s hard to find a better place than Green Bay — unless someone gives him much more money, which doesn’t seem that likely at this point. With the Packers, he could have a real role throughout the rest of the season, maybe even a chance to become a starter later in the season, and reach free agency again next offseason, recouping part of his value.
As Fowler mentioned in his piece, Samuel was considered one of the top free agent cornerbacks back in March, but didn’t sign with anyone due to his neck injury. Last season, his final one for the Chargers, Samuel played only four games due to a shoulder injury.
Despite being 5-10, Samuel is primarily a boundary corner, which is exactly what the Packers roster needs. Throughout his NFL career, Samuel has played 2,780 snaps outside and only 40 in the slot. He’s not a good tackler or run defender, but his coverage ability could be highly impactful for a defense that has struggled when pressure doesn’t get home.
The Packers went through a similar situation back in 2018, Brian Gutekunst’s first season as a general manager. Cornerback Bashaud Breeland was coming off his rookie contract with Washington and had agreed to a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. However, he suffered an infected cut on his foot during vacations in the Dominican Republic, which voided his deal.
After his recovery, the Packers signed him to a veteran minimum contract, and he was a solid player for the rest of the year. In 2019, Breeland joined the Kansas City Chiefs and helped them win the Super Bowl. He played another year for the Chiefs and also had short stints with the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals before retirement.
Cornerback situation
With Hobbs expected to miss at least two games, the Packers have only four other cornerbacks on the active 53-man roster — Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, and Kamal Hadden. Melton and Hadden have combined for zero regular-season defensive snaps in the NFL. The team also has undrafted rookie Tyron Herring on the practice squad.
Boundary cornerback is a major need for the Packers. Maybe Gutekunst is willing to make a trade — but even if he isn’t, Samuel would be a viable alternative for trying to improve at a premium position.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports Green Bay, as “Latest NFL development is the hope Packers need to address big roster issue for the rest of the season.”
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