The Buffalo Bills need to find a starting cornerback in the draft or free agency. The top-ranked free agent cornerback available needs to find a new team.
Buffalo was named an ideal landing spot for Asante Samuel Jr. by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell. The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams were the other teams listed as fits for the four-year starter with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Samuel Jr. is NFL.com’s top remaining cornerback and second-best player on the market, but he’s coming off an injury-shortened season on a contract year. Samuel Jr. only played four games in 2024 before suffering a shoulder injury and being placed on injured reserve.
He said after the season that he was dealing with “stinger symptoms” in both shoulders but expects to be ready for offseason programs. Samuel Jr. played in 17 games in consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Samuel Jr., 25, has a market value of $11.5 million per year and is projected to garner a four-year, $45.8 million contract by Spotrac, but teams may be hesitant to offer him more than a one-year prove-it deal. Samuel Jr. is coming off a four-year, $7.2 million rookie deal.
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“Samuel is only 25 years old and entering the prime of his career,” Barnwell said. “He wasn’t spectacular during his time with the Chargers, but we didn’t get to see him play much for new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter before the injury. Samuel had spent the entirety of his career up to that point under Brandon Staley, and it’s possible he could look better in a different defense.
“Samuel has played exclusively in zone-heavy schemes with the Chargers, so I would expect teams that lean toward zone coverages to give him serious consideration. His medicals will play a big role in determining how comfortable organizations are with investing in the former second-round pick, but given his abbreviated 2024 campaign, I would expect him to sign a one-year deal with the hopes of reestablishing his health and cashing in after a complete season next spring.”
The 2021 second-round pick has 176 tackles, six interceptions and 37 passes defended in 50 career games with 47 starts. Samuel Jr. is a smart player with good instincts. He had two interceptions and at least 11 pass breakups in each of his first three years. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder excels in zone coverage and has a knack for big plays but does not excel at tackling.
Pro Football Focus gave Samuel Jr. a 59.3 overall grade, which ranked 131st out of 222 cornerbacks, with a 22.2% missed tackle rate in 2024. He had coverage grades of at least 75.6 in 2022 and 2023.
Buffalo plays a lot of zone but general manager Brandon Beane has emphasized cornerbacks need to tackle and be physical in the Bills defense.
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Samuel is the son of two-time Super Bowl champion Asante Samuel, who played for the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons in his 11-year career. The elder Samuel was selected to four Pro Bowls and led was the NFL interception leader in 2006 and 2009.
Asante Samuel Jr. stats
- 2021: 12 games (12 starts); 43 tackles; 2 interceptions; 11 passes defended; 62.1% completions percentage allowed
- 2022: 17 games (15 starts); 57 tackles; 2 interceptions; 1 forced fumble; 11 passes defended; 55.2% completion percentage allowed
- 2023: 17 games (16 starts); 63 tackles; 2 interceptions; 13 passes defended; 60.4% completion percentage allowed
- 2024: 4 games (4 starts); 13 tackles; 2 passes defended; 66.7% completion percentage allowed
- Career: 50 games (47 starts); 176 tackles; 6 interceptions; 1 forced fumble; 37 passes defended; 59.5% completion percentage allowed