Vikings Again Linked to Notable Free Agent

The Minnesota Vikings have done a tremendous job this offseason of reinforcing a team that was bound to lose some free agents. Sam Darnold and Cam Bynum were the most noteworthy departures. At both spots, the Vikings had a succession plan ready, promoting J.J. McCarthy and Theo Jackson from within.

Vikings Again Linked to Notable Free Agent

At cornerback, however, no such plan existed, and the Vikings had to be creative. Shaq Griffin and Stephon Gilmore were allowed to walk in free agency. Byron Murphy Jr., who was a free agent, too, was re-signed.

Then, the club hired Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah. The CBs remain a reason for concern in the Twin Cities, despite the promising reports emerging from training camp. Kevin Patra of NFL.com has the solution: Just sign free agent Asante Samuel Jr.

Patra wrote this week: “The comments from Asante Samuel Sr. regarding Miami persuaded me to look elsewhere for a landing spot for his son.”

Asante Sr. recently said about the Dolphins: “The Dolphins had no reason to trade Jalen Ramsey other than they’re sensitive. There’s no leadership in the Dolphins organization. Mike McDaniel is a pushover. Chris Grier, the general manager, he has no backbone. These guys over here, the Miami Dolphins, they are running this team like a Little League team. No one can stand up to the players, they are terrified of their own players, and they have no control over their players.”

The franchise lost its entire secondary from last season. Mike Hilton and Jack Jones were acquired last week when the Dolphins were running out of healthy corners.

Patra continued: “The Vikings fit the bill. Minnesota has questions at corner outside of Pro Bowler Byron Murphy. Mekhi Blackmon is coming off a torn ACL sustained last July. Jeff Okudah has never lived up to his first-round draft billing and continues to bounce around the league. And Isaiah Rodgers has started 13 games in his career (missed all of 2023 due to suspension).”

There’s no doubt about it that the Vikings enter the season with a risky cornerback group on an otherwise loaded roster. Injuries have plagued Okudah, and his play has never even come close to the expectations a third overall pick has to deal with. Rodgers won a Super Bowl as a rotational player with the Eagles, but he has yet to be a full-time starter. Blackmon has primarily worked with the second team.

“The 25-year-old Samuel Jr. has his detractions, including questionable tackling, but could find a fit in Brian Flores’ system. There are injury concerns with Samuel Jr., too (he missed 13 games last season), but the talent is there to take a swing,” Patra concluded.

Many expected Samuel Jr. to have a busy free agency period, but he remains unsigned. He is 25 years old and a former second-rounder of the Los Angeles Chargers. An ongoing shoulder issue might be a problem for the young corner.

After playing in all 17 games in 2022 and 2023, he was limited to only four contests last season. In 50 career games, the defender caught six interceptions and made 176 tackles.

Samuel Jr.’s PFF resume is pretty strong. He struggled in his rookie season but was one of the 30 best cornerbacks in each of 2022 and 2023, according to the company’s grades.

Samuel Sr. not only took a shot at the Dolphins, but he also targeted Vikings legend Cris Carter, stating the Hall of Famer was overrated because he was just a possession receiver.

Carter later gracefully responded, saying Samuel Sr. was right about the possession receiver part, but he was the best possession receiver to ever do it. The father might not help his son find a new home that way.

Regardless, the 25-year-old is still available. The Vikings seem happy with the cornerback room, but if they want some more help, Samuel Jr. is the man to call.