Windy City Gridiron
Earlier this week, 26-year-old free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who had spinal fusion surgery in April, was fully cleared to play football. He plans to take his time and meet with several teams before deciding where to call home for the remainder of the 2025 season.
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Samuel visited the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, he’ll meet with the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, and talk with the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. Then on Monday, November 10, he’ll meet with the San Francisco 49ers; on Tuesday, the Chicago Bears will have their chance to make a pitch; and on Wednesday, he’ll be with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021 to 2024, Samuel (5’10”, 180) started 47 of the 50 games he appeared in, making 176 tackles, six interceptions, and 37 passes defended.
The former second-round pick spent all but four games last season on injured reserve with shoulder issues, but it was a lifelong medical condition that led to the spinal fusion surgery. Both Dr. David Okonkwo, the neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers who performed Samuel’s surgery, and Dr. Nicholas Theodore, the Director of the Neurosurgical Spine Program at Johns Hopkins University, reviewed Samuel’s medical scans and gave him the go-ahead to resume his career.
During the offseason, many considered Samual to be the top corner on the market, with an expected contract to be in the neighborhood of 4 years and $45 million, but since the surgery, he’s probably looking at a prove-it deal for the rest of this season, with the hope of cashing in for 2026 once he shows the NFL he’s good to go.
