The Miami Dolphins have spent the offseason reshaping their roster, but they still have a glaring hole in one of the most critical spots on defense.
With trade talks surrounding cornerback Jalen Ramsey heating up, the team is now being linked to one of the most intriguing names left on the market — the 25-year-old son of legendary cornerback and two-time Super Bowl champion Asante Samuel.
Dolphins Predicted To Replace Jalen Ramsey With Asante Samuel Jr.
The Dolphins are coming off missing the postseason, and the organization was 11th last season with a 79.3 Defense+ grade. With Ramsey’s departure looking inevitable now, Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzanopredicts Miami can replace him with Asante Samuel Jr., a ferocious defender who excelled on his rookie deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
“There are a handful of notable names available at this position, but the cornerback market is being held up by the potential trade of Ramsey. If and when Ramsey is moved, the Dolphins should pick up the phone and call Samuel, a feisty defender who made 47 starts in four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers,” Manzano wrote. “Samuel played only four games in 2024 due to a shoulder injury, but the ’21 second-round pick didn’t miss a game in his first three seasons. Mike Hilton, Rasul Douglas, and Stephon Gilmore are also available.”
Right now, the depth chart behind Ramsey includes Kader Kohou, Artie Burns, Storm Duck, Cam Smith, Ethan Bonner, and rookie Jason Marshall Jr. Samuel might be the perfect addition to it, and he fits well into head coach Mike McDaniel’s Cover 2-heavy defense. The Dolphins ran Cover 2 on 27.3% of opponent dropbacks last season — the fourth-highest rate in the league — and Samuel’s skill set lines up well with that scheme.
Of course, the big caveat is Samuel’s health. A shoulder and neck injury limited him to just four games in 2024, and he underwent neck surgery in April. Still, he’s only 25 and has flashed elite traits during his career. Through 50 games with the Chargers, Samuel has totaled 37 pass breakups and six interceptions.
Samuel also has interest from other locations, as he has had a meeting with the New Orleans Saints this offseason. He did clarify the injury was a stinger, an issue he has dealt with since birth, but did not dive deeper than that.
Asante Samuel Jr., one of the top free agent corners in this year’s class, is waiting to sign with a new team after undergoing neck surgery in April, per sources.
Samuel, who visited the Saints today, has a check-up in early July, after which he will reconvene with several… pic.twitter.com/mQJUkHsf9k
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 13, 2025
Miami is going to be an interesting team this upcoming season, and if they can add Samuel to their secondary, it could really bolster a weaker position group. There is also the chance that this move could mean Ramsey stays and creates a solid 1-2 cornerback duo. However, that’s highly unlikely with the Dolphins just over $13 million in cap space for the 2025 season, according to Over The Cap.