Ideal Vikings Free-Agent Target Gets Awkward Update With Team

A position the Minnesota Vikings could fortify with a veteran free agent come training camp is cornerback.

The team did so last year after not being satisfied with its cornerback group in training camp, signing Stephon Gilmore in August. Promising third-year corner Mekhi Blackmon missed last season with a hamstring injury and has only three starts under his belt — leaving some room for a more veteran presence and depth.

After passing on Jaire Alexander and Jalen Ramsey, the Vikings remain in the fold to land four-time Pro Bowler Asante Samuel Jr.

CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan linked the Vikings to Samuel on July 8, however, this was just hours after his father took issue with one of the franchise’s all-time greats, Cris Carter.

Asante Samuel Sr. Makes Son’s Free-Agent Prospects With Vikings Unsettling

On his podcast over the weekend, Asante Samuel Sr., a four-time Pro Bowler himself who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, took issue with Carter calling Chad Johnson overrated.

“I think Cris Carter was great during his time, he was a [heck] of a route runner and he had some of the best hands in football… but he is really beside himself coming for Chad Johnson,” Samuel said on his podcast. “He was nothing more than a possession receiver… a receiver that catches the ball and is immediately tackled… Cris Carter is one of the most overrated [wide receivers] to ever come in the NFL, or into the Hall of Fame.”

While Samuel Sr.’s words won’t foil his son’s prospects with the Vikings, it has made for an awkward scenario given Carter is still an integral part of the franchise.

Samuel Sr. also helped the Vikings by calling out the Miami Dolphins for having “no backbone,” narrowing the list of potential contenders his son could join.

Vikings Remain Top Contender to Land Asante Samuel Jr.

Petty differences aside, the NFL is a business and the Vikings would be wise to at least inquiring about improving the cornerback room.

Beyond the top three cornerbacks in Minnesota, there’s little reliable playing experience outside an upside bet on Jeff Okudah.

While the Vikings deploy five defensive backs in their primary formation, Josh Metellus has played plenty of slot cornerback for the team. His role may look different with the departure of Camryn Bynum.

From CBS Sports:

The Vikings surrendered 239.8 passing yards per game last season, which was the fourth highest in the league. This offseason, they saw the secondary take a hit with the departures of cornerback Stephon Gilmore (15 starts in 2024) along with safety Camryn Bynum in free agency.

They did sign outside corners Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah earlier this offseason, but neither of them is a sure thing. Rodgers started in just three of his 19 games played for the Philadelphia Eagles (including playoffs), while Okudah was limited to six games (zero starts) with the Houston Texans in 2024 due to injury.

Bringing Samuel in would give the Vikings another opportunity to hit on a low-cost veteran free agent who helps maintain Brian Flores’ defense as one of the top in the NFL.