We are now in the window between the peak of free agency, with speculation, smoke screens and whatnot prevalent when news comes about incoming draft prospects. But speculation of varying degrees is not reserved for the draft, it can extend to players who remain available in free agency too.
Citing an anonymous listener on Friday's episode of SKOR North's "Purple Daily", host Phil Mackey dove into a "Reckless Speculation" bit the outlet is known for. The said listener got a call from his neighbor, who said he got a text from his daughter on vacation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That's quite a line of communication to dilute a story, but Mackey continued.
"She's at SWAY Nightclub with some friends when she noticed a young man in a Vikings cap with an entourage around him. She's a big football fan and made her way toward him and asked if he played for the Vikings. He kind of smiled and said, 'It won't be official for about five weeks, but yes.'
She then asked for his name, and he introduced himself as Asante."
Story about Minnesota Vikings signing Asante Samuel Jr. might just be true
"Asante" would surely be Asante Samuel Jr., a free agent cornerback who is on any list of top remaining free agents you'll see right now. He is also from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and yes, SWAY Nightclub is a real place.
Samuel spent the first four seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers. He missed all but four games last season due to a shoulder injury, but he had two interceptions and double-digit pass breakups in each of his first three seasons. In 2022 and 2023, he earned a top-30 overall PFF defensive grade among qualifying cornerbacks.
The Vikings re-signed Byron Murphy, along with adding Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah in free agency this year. They could use more help at cornerback, though, and Samuel is arguably the best available as the month of March winds down.
We know the Vikings seem likely to wait until after April's draft to sign a veteran quarterback to backup J.J. McCarthy, so as not to impact their formula for compensatory draft picks. That idea could easily extend to other free agent signings, hence why "Asante" told the aforementioned daughter of the anonymous SKOR North listener's neighbor his signing won't be official "for about five weeks."
In service to the bit, Mackey may have been masking some genuine insight under the guise of "Reckless Speculation". It doesn't take much to learn that Samuel is from Fort Lauderdale, then research the names of nightclubs there.
How much of the story is actually true can be questioned, or more ideally, laughed off. But Minnesota having what amounts to a handshake agreement with Samuel, and waiting to officially sign him until a month from now, is entirely believable.