The Arizona Cardinals landed one of the best defensive players on the NFL free-agent market this week, securing edge rusher Josh Sweat on a massive long-term contract. They’ve also added a few other nice pieces, but they still have the cap room to make another splash.
Could the Cardinals ultimately land arguably the top cornerback remaining in free agency?
Well, it appears Arizona has made significant progress toward doing so, as the Cardinals met with cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on Thursday, via Field Yates of ESPN. With all of the money they still have available, they could make him a potentially handsome offer.
Of course, how much Arizona actually wants to shell out for Samuel remains to be seen, as the 25-year-old played in just four games with the Los Angeles Chargers this past season due to a shoulder injury.
However, prior to 2024, Samuel had played in every contest for two straight campaigns and had established himself as a pretty solid player. During his most recent healthy season in 2023, the Florida State product posted 63 tackles, a couple of interceptions and 13 passes defended.
Samuel was originally selected by the Chargers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and immediately established himself as a starter in LA’s secondary. While he has never made a Pro Bowl, he has been impressive, and you get the feeling that there is a whole lot of untapped potential with the Fort Lauderdale, Fl. native.
The Cardinals ranked 21st in the league in passing defense this past year, so they could definitely stand to add some talent to their secondary, which they have yet to address this offseason.
