Cowboys Urged to Sign Projected $45 Million CB With ‘Big Play Ability’

If we’re being real about it, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. seems like just the type of player the Dallas Cowboys have made a mint off of in the past.

Samuel is a high upside, big risk player who might just need a team to take a chance on him due to complicated injury issues.

For the Cowboys and Samuel, it could be a mutually beneficial relationship if he’s healthy because their top 3 cornerbacks are all coming off serious injuries in 2024 with Trevon Diggs (ACL), Daron Bland (stress fratcture) and Shavon Revel (ACL).

Spotrac had Samuel projected to receive a 4-year, $45.8 million contract in free agency in 2025 but after shoulder/neck surgery limited him to just 4 games in 2024 he’s looking for a place to make a big impression.

That could be the Cowboys, who could offer Samuel something in the range of a 1-year, $5 million offer that could escalate to $9 million with incentives.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox still has Samuel, the son of 2-time Super Bowl champion cornerback Asante Samuel, listed among the best NFL free agents still available.

“Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. remains one of the biggest wild cards of free agency,” Davenport wrote on July 19. ” … When healthy, though, Samuel has flashed both consistency and big-play ability. Samuel allowed an opposing passer rating of 87.4 in limited action last year and has allowed an opposing passer rating under 100 in all four of his NFL campaigns. He also recorded 35 pass deflections and six interceptions in his first three seasons. Medicals will be a big factor for Samuel, but the 25-year-old carries a tremendous amount of upside.”

Injury Proved Devastating to Samuel’s Bottom Line

Getting hurt and not playing most of the final season of his 4-year, $7.22 million rookie contract proved devastating for Samuel’s bottom line. Even if it’s not reflective of his play through his first 4 NFL seasons.

Samuel was a second round pick (No. 47 overall) out of Florida State in the 2021 NFL draft, where he was a 2-time All-ACC pick. Since then, he has started 47 out of 50 career games for the Chargers.

Cowboys Have Huge Question Mark at CB

Trying to project how the Cowboys cornerbacks will do in 2025 is a pretty futile exercise. They could be one of the NFL’s best position groups or worst position groups. It all depends on how healthy they are.

That uncertainty is pretty wild when we consider both Diggs and Bland have led the NFL in interceptions and been named NFL All-Pro in the last 4 seasons. Bland even set the NFL record with 5 interceptions returned for touchdowns in 2023. Revel is the wild card.

“A big opportunity awaits the third-round rookie, who will almost certainly see starting reps when the season begins, as Trevon Diggs is still recovering from a January knee surgery and could start the season on the PUP list,” ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote on July 16. ” … Revel fell in the draft for injury concerns … if Revel looks healthy in camp, expect to see him starting against A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the first game of the 2025 season.”