The 49ers have been linked to Asante Samuel Jr. on the free-agent market, but making him a priority might not be the best idea.
The San Francisco 49ers need another starting cornerback this offseason.
Charvarius Ward is hitting the free-agent market, and nearly every sign points to him not returning to the Bay Area, leaving Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green as the remaining two qualified candidates in the starting lineup.
The Niners need a third.
San Francisco could turn to the NFL Draft as a means to find talent, as it did with Green a year ago. But it's important to note how young defensive backs often struggle with the transition to the pros. Development can take time, which suggests the 49ers may turn to the free-agent market.
One name linked to the Niners is soon-to-be free-agent corner Asante Samuel Jr. of the Los Angeles Chargers.
ESPN's Matt Bowen compiled a list of the top 50 free agents this offseason and then speculated which team would be the best fit on the open market.
In Samuel's case, San Francisco was the top destination, as Bowen described:
"A shoulder injury limited Samuel to four games last season, but he has the traits to produce at a position of need in Robert Saleh’s 49ers defense. Charvarius Ward is a free agent, meaning there could be a hole at corner. Samuel has a playmaking mentality, with the foot quickness and sudden closing speed to break on the ball in zone and man looks."
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back was a potential 49ers target back in the 2021 draft, but they passed on him, trading down and ultimately selecting left guard Aaron Banks at No. 48 overall. Samuel was selected the pick prior.
After four years in SoCal, it appears as if Samuel will be allowed to hit the open market.
But, is he actually a good choice for the Niners?
49ers may want to steer clear of Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel flashed plenty of promise in 2022 and even 2023, tallying four interceptions between those two seasons while holding quarterbacks to no more than a shade over 60 percent in completed passes in his direction.
With flexibility to cover the slot and play on the boundary, San Francisco might be enticed to prioritize Samuel when his contract expires this March. Plus, the versatility to occupy multiple roles within the defensive backfield has been something the 49ers have prioritized before.
Except there's a problem. A big one.
Samuel missed all but four games in 2024 because of a lingering shoulder issue, and the stinger essentially erased what was supposed to be a promising contract year.
Even worse, Samuel admitted the shoulder problem is chronic, one he's "been dealing with" since childhood:
CB Asante Samuel Jr., who didn’t play since Week 4, said he’s been dealing with stinger/shoulder injury that sparked from a collision in practice.
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) January 12, 2025
He also said the injury is an issue he’s been dealing with since he was born but didn’t want to go into details.
Coming off a 2024 campaign that was defined by a swarm of injuries, the last thing the Niners would want to do is go after yet another injury-prone player who'd be at risk of missing substantial time.
Sure, Samuel was mostly healthy the previous two years. But, last season is a major warning sign.
Now, there is a scenario where it makes sense for San Francisco to target Samuel on the open market. Not unlike what they did with another former oft-injured Charger, cornerback Jason Verrett, bringing Samuel in on a low-cost, prove-it kind of deal could make some sense, provided the 49ers have a solid contingency plan in place. This could be a promising first-year draftee or another veteran acquisition.
Letting Samuel compete for a roster spot while pushing the remaining crop of defensive backs could help, particularly if the Niners don't commit a lot of money to him.
Anything more is risky. Very risky.
Hat tip to Niners Nation for the find.
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