Now that trades can no longer be made, free agency is the only way teams can add players and improve their teams. Finding a cheap, possibly longer-term fix in free agency would be excellent, and one available player would be the perfect option for the New Orleans Saints.
Saints Bring in Some CB Help
One of the weakest areas of the Saints’ roster is their cornerback room, particularly in terms of its fit within DC Brandon Staley’s scheme. CBs Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor should be the top corners on the team, but they have struggled all season. Instead, rookie Quincy Riley has been the standout CB on the team. This season, Riley has a B- (81.4) grade and ranks 25th among all CBs per PFSN’s CB Impact metric.
Much of McKinstry and Taylor’s disappointing play this season can be attributed to their fit in Staley’s heavy zone coverage scheme. Although both players could improve with more time, relying on that to happen is risky. The Saints need to bring in some help for this season and beyond. Looking at the available options, CB Asante Samuel Jr. sticks out like a sore thumb.
Why Would New Orleans Sign the Former Los Angeles Chargers CB?
Throughout this past offseason, Samuel Jr. was linked to New Orleans as a potential free agent option, depending on whether he got cleared from his injury. This link made sense for both parties.
The Saints just hired Staley, who was the HC of the Los Angeles Chargers and selected Samuel Jr. in the 2021 NFL Draft. CB was also a massive need on the roster, and a complete transition to a new scheme could get ugly fast as players learning. For Samuel Jr., some of his best career plays happened in Staley’s scheme.
This always felt like a deal waiting to happen, and now, Samuel Jr. is cleared to play again. It now comes down to whether Samuel Jr. wants to play for a contender or get more playing time. The Saints can give that playing time, and if a deal does happen, it must be for two years. CB is a short- and long-term issue for the Saints, and securing him on a two-year deal could help avoid some draft and financial headaches for the future.