Cornerback seemed like a top need for the Minnesota Vikings entering the 2025 NFL Draft, but how taking one might come to fruition with just four picks was an easy question. They ultimately had five picks, but none were a cornerback.
In late-March, a so-wild it had to be true rumor connecting Minnesota to free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. surfaced via an anonymous correspondence sent to Phil Mackey of SKOR North. Samuel was apparently wearing a Vikings hat at a club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the letter writer's neighbor's daughter asked him if he played for Minnesota. His response was, "It won't be official for about five weeks."
With the draft over and the compensatory draft pick formula out of the equation, it's safe to say the Vikings will consider adding a veteran cornerback if it makes sense. And of course, Samuel has not been signed and is at or near the top of any list of available free agents.
Mutual interest not there (yet) for Minnesota Vikings and Asante Samuel Jr.
KSTP's Darren Wolfson made his usual appearance on SKOR North Tuesday. Co-host Judd Zulgad mentioned Samuel in tongue-in-cheek fashion, but in the frame of what might be next for the Vikings.
"I will tell you the Asante Samuel Jr. camp certainly has tried to push him [to the Vikings]," Wolfson said.
Wolfson then noted the question about Samuel's health after missing 13 games with a neck and shoulder issue last season. That lingering concern was given fresh oxygen by recent reporting from NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
"It's a medical thing. I've heard that from the team, it is a medical concern for him," Garafolo said on the PHNX Cardinals Podcast, while noting "there is a red flag" concerning his "neck/shoulder" health.
Wolfson added his own insight to the situation on Tuesday.
"I reached out to a prominent agent, an agent I've had a really good relationship, going back a while. He represents, not Asante, but another relatively high-profile, available cornerback," Wolfson said. "This agent told me on Monday, the Vikings just aren't interested. And this agent thinks nothing is going to happen anytime soon."
Wolfson offered his opinion that the Vikings will add a veteran cornerback at some point, naming Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin, and Samuel, but it might be "weeks upon weeks down the road."
Gilmore and Griffin of course both played for Minnesota last season, so the return of either one would make sense. For some timeframe context, the Vikings signed Gilmore on August 18 last year.
