The NFL offseason is full of surprises and unexpected twists and turns. One of the topics of discussion is the future of free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.
The Los Angeles Chargers selected Samuel in the second round with the 47th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. The fourth-year pro has six interceptions in 50 career games. Samuel suffered a shoulder injury and missed most of the 2024 season after being placed on injured reserve in week six.
With the 2025 NFL Draft less than a week away and minicamps looming, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz was issued a terse five-word response when asked if the team was considering bringing Samuel back.
Hortiz’s Vague Response Fuels Uncertainty Around Asante Samuel Jr.’s Future With Chargers
In the final moments of a 30-minute press conference that addressed various team issues, Hortiz dodged a very straightforward question when asked if the door was still open for a Chargers return.
“That’s Asante’s conversation, not mine,” Hortiz told reporters. While the comment was brief and elusive, naturally, it raised eyebrows because it suggested that the door may still be partially open, but potentially only if it’s under the team’s terms.
Samuel was recently ranked No. 58 on PFSN’s list of top free agents, with the analyst noting that Samuel had a career year in 2023 and was showing signs of improvement before his 2024 season was cut short due to the shoulder injury.
In 2023, Samuel allowed just three touchdowns on a career-high number of targets and posted a modest 60.4% completion rate allowed.
With the Chargers remaining quiet and Samuel’s free agency value somewhat cold after an injury-filled campaign, a few teams have been linked as potential suitors. Franchises that need cornerback depth, such as the Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants, have had their respective fan bases speculating about a potential signing, but nothing official has been reported.
Samuel, 24, still offers upside and has 47 career regular-season starts to tour his league experience. Cornerback depth tops most general managers’ priority lists in a league filled with potent aerial attacks.
The Chargers have spent the offseason reshaping their roster under head coach Jim Harbaugh, who is entering his second season. Los Angeles signed cornerbacks Benjamin St-Juste (1-year deal) and Donte Jackson (2-year contract) — moves that could signal the end of Samuel’s tenure with the team. Factor in Hortiz’s cryptic comment, and it’s increasingly unlikely that Samuel will return to the Chargers for a fifth season.