The Minnesota Vikings could use some help in the defensive secondary, but that help will not come from free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. The 26-year-old defender was a free agent after being released by the Los Angeles Chargers following an injury in 2024.
Samuel made multiple visits as a free agent once he was cleared to return to football. One of those visits was with the Vikings. Many fans hoped that the former second-round draft pick out of Florida State would sign with Minnesota.
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. decided not to sign with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent.
Sadly, Asante Samuel decided not to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. A report was issued on Tuesday that the young defensive back is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers to be on their practice squad.
#Chargers FA CB Asante Samuel, who had a spinal fusion procedure this offseason and was fully cleared, is signing with the #Steelers practice squad, sources said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2025
A prime landing spot for a former top free agent. pic.twitter.com/ZxRIh0ZS00
Interestingly, Samuel would choose to sign with the Steelers to be on the practice squad when the Vikings might have been able to offer him a spot on the team's 53-man roster due to a lack of depth.
Minnesota recently placed cornerback Jeff Okudah on injured reserve, so there was an opening for a young cornerback to possibly contribute. However, he might have liked the chances of winning in Pittsburgh more than with the purple and gold.
While it is mildly disappointing that Samuel did not come to the Vikings, that won't stop the Vikings from attempting to claw their way out of the basement of the NFC North after their frustrating loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Samuel is a five-foot-ten, 180-pound cornerback with 47 starts in his career and 50 total games played. In that time, he accumulated 37 pass defenses, including six interceptions, while adding 176 combined tackles and one fumble recovery.
The young defensive back is still not a polished player, but one who shows potential. Under defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Minnesota, he could have learned and developed while not needing to take on a big role in the defense.
In Pittsburgh, Samuel may have to earn his way off the practice squad to get on the field for regular-season action. The Steelers will have an opportunity to take a young defender and get the most out of him without using a draft pick to acquire him.
This might mean the Minnesota Vikings will have to look to the 2026 NFL Draft to reload at the cornerback position.