For the past few weeks, whispers have been swirling about a potential move that had Minnesota Vikings fans buzzing — the signing of free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who spent the last four seasons holding it down for the Los Angeles Chargers.
But for those who were already dreaming of Samuel donning purple and gold this fall, there might be some heartbreak on the horizon. According to a report from NFL insider Mike Garafolo, Samuel is still battling symptoms from a neck/shoulder injury — the same one that sidelined him for 13 games last season — and it’s significantly cooled interest from teams since free agency kicked off in March.
Given Minnesota’s own history with neck injuries — just think back to Danielle Hunter’s saga in 2020 — this kind of issue is a serious red flag. And with Samuel still not fully recovered, the chances of him joining the Vikings this year appear slim.
Sure, there’s always a chance the situation improves before the 2025 season kicks off, but for now, Minnesota likely has its eyes on other options — be it free agents or potential trade targets — to bolster the cornerback room.
Regardless of whether Samuel makes his way to the Twin Cities, one thing is clear: the Vikings’ secondary will have a very different look in 2025 compared to last season.
They did manage to bring back Byron Murphy Jr., but veterans like Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin — who both played major roles in 2024 — are not expected to return. Mekhi Blackmon is working his way back from an ACL tear, and Minnesota added Jeff Okudah during free agency. Still, it’s clear that more reinforcements are needed.
With the NFL Draft just around the corner, don’t be surprised if the Vikings use one or more picks to upgrade their secondary. One way or another, they’re not done adding corners to the mix.
So while the Asante Samuel Jr. dream may be fading, the Vikings’ pursuit of defensive upgrades is far from over — and the coming weeks could still hold a few surprises.
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