Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Back in May, the New Orleans Saints hosted free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. for a visit. Samuel and Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley have a lot of familiarity together spending the majority of the 2021-2023 seasons together with the Los Angeles Chargers.
While the Saints have familiarity with Samuel, there are a lot of factors that would have to be cleared before he was actually signed.
Mutual Interest
First and foremost, there would need to be mutual interest between the two. Samuel would have to see the Saints as a fit and the Saints would have to be swooned by what he could bring to the team.
Being Medically Cleared
The medical question mark is also a big one. Samuel was due for a medical check up in July, per reports. If that clearing has happened, then he could be looking to sign with a team soon, particularly one comfortable with his recovery post-neck procedure.
Asante Samuel Jr., one of the top free agent corners in this year’s class, is waiting to sign with a new team after undergoing neck surgery in April, per sources.
Samuel, who visited the Saints today, has a check-up in early July, after which he will reconvene with several… pic.twitter.com/mQJUkHsf9k
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 13, 2025
Competition With Other Teams
The final hurdle is the competition. The Saints are far from the only team to be interested. Rumors have connected the corner with the Minnesota Vikings and he was reportedly checked in on by the Miami Dolphins even before the trading away of cornerback Jalen Ramsey. However, Asante Samuel Sr. had some not-so-complimentary things to say about that possible landing spot.
There has been a confirmed visit to the Arizona Cardinals.
So, if the Saints have interest in Samuel, whose Instagram is now active with workout videos showing his recovery, they won’t be the only player in the game.
