In the NFL, a single play can rewrite your future. For Asante Samuel Jr., it wasn’t even a spectacular one. It was just an ordinary tackle on a crisp October afternoon in Foxborough. But when his shoulder gave way during that week 5 clash with the Patriots, the promising cornerback couldn’t have known he was about to enter football purgatory. Three years ago, Samuel was the talk of the league, a ball-hawking defensive back who played with his father’s swagger and his own brand of fearlessness. Now, at just 25, he sits in waiting rooms instead of locker rooms. His neck surgery scar was still fresh from April, and his phone was surprisingly quiet for a former second-round pick.
Things are shaking up for Asante Samuel Jr. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned on his X handle that, “Asante Samuel Jr., one of the top free-agent corners in this year’s class, is waiting to sign with a new team after undergoing neck surgery in April, per sources. Samuel, who visited the Saints today, has a check-up in early July, after which he will reconvene with several interested teams. Samuel plans to return to the field for the 2025 season.” It seems the Saints’ offseason is still in full swing.
Asante Samuel Jr., one of the top free agent corners in this year’s class, is waiting to sign with a new team after undergoing neck surgery in April, per sources.
Samuel, who visited the Saints today, has a check-up in early July, after which he will reconvene with several… pic.twitter.com/mQJUkHsf9k
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 13, 2025
The New Orleans Saints have been busy looking to beef up their cornerback lineup. Even though they picked Louisville’s Quincy Riley in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the team aimed high earlier, trying to snag Chavarious Ward from the 49ers before he joined the Colts. An enormous loss for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency was when they said goodbye to defensive back Charvarius Ward, who inked a deal with the Indianapolis Colts.
That departure, along with others, pushed the 49ers to focus heavily on their defense in the 2025 NFL Draft. They ended up with an impressive haul of 11 players. Interestingly, six of them are defenders, including their first five picks. With offseason programs and training camp just around the corner, San Francisco might still be on the hunt to beef up their roster. There are plenty of free agents still out there. And Asante is one to consider.
With some financial breathing room opened up thanks to Derek Carr’s retirement, the Saints might continue their search for another cornerback. Cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor had a somewhat rocky 2024. While there were moments of potential, the Saints probably want a more reliable player in their secondary after trading Marshon Lattimore. Signing Samuel Jr. would also allow them to shift Taylor back into the slot.
Before Samuel Jr. joins any team, he needs to pass a check-up scheduled for early July. Once he gets the all-clear, interest will likely spike, with New Orleans keenly watching developments. The Saints have about $40 million in cap space. And given Samuel Jr.’s connection with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s strategies, boosting their secondary further seems likely. Meanwhile, over at the 49ers, they’ve released a wide receiver, keeping their own roster changes in motion.
49ers welcome back a familiar face: A new chapter
The San Francisco 49ers are exploring the possibility of signing Gabe Davis. He previously played wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. This information comes from Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Davis was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft from the University of Central Florida. He has a solid record, with at least 35 receptions in every season except 2024. His standout year was 2022, when he caught 49 passes for 836 yards and seven touchdowns. The following year, he recorded 45 catches for 746 yards and another seven touchdowns.
Dec 23, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (13) celebrates after scoring a 57-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Gabe faced the 49ers once during his rookie season in 2020. That game reportedly piqued Kyle Shanahan’s interest in acquiring a mobile quarterback. Davis caught three out of four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in that game. Davis later moved from Buffalo to Jacksonville with a hefty three-year, $39 million contract. Unfortunately, after suffering a season-ending injury, Jacksonville released him due to a failed physical.
He tore his meniscus in November 2024. It was initially thought he would need about six months to recover. Perhaps he’s healing faster than expected, or maybe the 49ers are simply monitoring his progress. Even with his season cut short, Davis still made a 20-yard catch in four out of ten games. Teams always value having a big-play receiver on their roster. During his four years in Buffalo, Davis caught 35 passes, ranking him 13th in the NFL for that metric. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next!
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