Early in the offseason, the New Orleans Saints reportedly showed interest in bringing Asante Samuel Jr. on board, and with Samuel Jr.'s prior experience with Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, it made sense. I mean, hey, who wouldn't want a cornerback who gathered 176 tackles and six interceptions on his rookie contract? However, as the weeks went on, all that was heard on that front were crickets.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback has finally been cleared to play following a surgical procedure. A versatile defensive back, he has been a free agent since the end of the 2024 season.
The news would later break that he underwent spinal fusion surgery, something that typically takes multiple months to recover from. Now, on the morning of the trade deadline, in typical National Football League fashion, one of the most talked about free agents from this past offseason is now back and ready to play.
The Saints might not be as interested in Asante Samuel Jr. as they once were
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. being cleared to play is sure to be news that many teams across the NFL will be glad to hear, and he is sure to have many interested parties. However, the Saints might not be one of those teams.
The Samuel Jr-Saints marriage would have to be a two way street, and there's a chance neither party may think it's worth it at this point. There's the unfortunate fact that the team is 1-8 and currently in line for the second overall pick, so if Samuel Jr. wants to be on a winning team or at least one that's not actively rebuilding, he'll have to look elsewhere.
Furthermore, In the months since, rookie cornerback Quincy Riley has been playing well, earning some of the highest PFF grades of the Saints' defensive backfield. The Saints have essentially moved on, and with the precedent they've set of getting their young guys some playing time, it doesn't sound like the Saints are going to look back. They are, as it stands, set to roll with the punches.