No one can question the talent of Asante Samuel Jr. but the cornerback needed a good fit in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Los Angeles Chargers are ideal.
Most people have considered the Los Angeles Chargers one of the big winners coming out of the 2021 NFL Draft. Not only did the second-best offensive tackle in the class, Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater, fall to them in the first round but the Bolts were also able to have one of the most talented cornerbacks in the class, Asante Samuel Jr., fall to them at No. 47 in Round 2.
Though cornerback has long been a strength for this franchise, the health of the position has not been. Moreover, their standing with depth at corner changed this offseason with some key departures, leaving veteran Chris Harris Jr., who the franchise landed last year, as the only returning proven starter.
Thus, being able to land Samuel Jr. was a big get for the Chargers from the get-go. The Florida State product fell to the second round not because of his tape or even his athletic traits. In fact, he checks the boxes you want in those regards. However, at just 5-11, he didn’t meet the size thresholds many teams look for.
That, however, works to the favor of new Chargers head coach Brandon Staley and his history working with cornerbacks who possess a similar skill-set to Samuel Jr.’s.
Staley knows how to put Asante Samuel Jr. in the best spot to succeed with the Chargers.
Due to his size, some people might look at Samuel Jr. and come to the wrong conclusion that he’s a slot-only cornerback. While he’s more than quick and agile enough to cover when put into that role, he’s more than that. He plays bigger than his height and has the athleticism and play strength to still hold up on the outside.
To put it simply, he’s not dissimilar to a player like Troy Hill, who signed with the Browns this offseason but rose to prominence with the Rams under the watch of Staley while he was the defensive coordinator. Hill, like Samuel, doesn’t meet the traditional size marks for many NFL teams but has the tools and play style to be a versatile piece capable of covering inside or out.
Not only can he move inside and out but Samuel Jr. (the same is true for Hill, too) has the ability to thrive in multiple looks, which Staley loves to deploy. He’s comfortable in various coverage schemes and can make plays on the ball from any alignment. The key is just having a coaching staff who recognizes this and allows him to be in that versatile type of role.
Subsequently, Asante Samuel Jr. going to the Chargers as Staley takes over on the sidelines couldn’t be more perfect. He has experience with similar types of player and is unafraid to put the FSU standout into multiple roles. In essence, the rookie should have the opportunity to be the best version of himself in the NFL thanks to where he landed.