Asante Samuel Jr.

Asante Samuel Jr. Player Profile

Summary

Asante Samuel Jr. was selected in the 2nd Round (#47 Overall) out of Florida State University. The son of former NFL CB Asante Samuel, he brings a blend of elite movement, ball‑skills, versatility and instincts to the cornerback position. His physical limitations (size, length, press strength) and certain run‑game/run support issues are his main drawbacks. Samuel’s free agency in 2025 was delayed after he suffered a serious spinal fusion injury that required surgery, but he was cleared in November 2025. In the right scheme, he can be a difference‑maker; the ceiling is high for a player with his traits, although the path to elite status will require refinement of his physicality, run defense and consistency.

Strengths

  • Excellent hip fluidity and change of direction: Samuel Jr. shows smooth pedal and quick transitions out of backpedal, helping him mirror receivers effectively. NFL Mocks

  • Instincts and ball skills: He has shown strong anticipation, ability to locate the ball, and make plays on it (breakups/interceptions) in college.

  • Coverage versatility: Capable of playing both outside and in the slot, in man coverage, and showing competence in zone alignment.

  • Competitive mindset & willingness to support run defense: Despite his size, he competes and shows toughness near the line. NFL Mocks

Weaknesses

  • Undersized and limited length: At ~5′10″ with shorter arms, he lacks ideal size and reach for boundary corner roles against taller receivers.

  • Physicality and press coverage challenges: He sometimes struggles with bigger, more physical receivers at the catch point and press alignment.

  • Tackling consistency and run‑game reliability: Samuel has logged an unusually high missed tackles rate in his NFL career as he is less effective run support.

  • Long‑down speed / staying over the top: While his hips and movement are strong, he may not always match the deep speed of elite boundary receivers, which can limit his ceiling in pure outside roles.

Outlook & Role

Samuel Jr. projects as a very good starting cornerback, with strong upside in the right scheme. His best fit is in a defense that deploys him in matchups where his agility, instincts and zone/slot capabilities shine and allows flexibility rather than relying purely on him to press and physically dominate at the line against large receivers. If he continues to refine his strength, tackling, press technique, and remains healthy (spinal fusion injury delayed his 2025 Free Agency) then his trajectory could elevate into the upper tier of starting corners. If not, he may settle into a role as a high‑quality but not elite starter.