Tag: asante samuel jr

Raiders vs Chargers final Week 1 injury report: Malcolm Koonce, Jackson Powers-Johnson both OUT

Malcolm Koonce, Jackson Powers-Johnson both OUT for Raiders vs Chargers

The final injury report for the Raiders and Chargers is out and as expected, Malcolm Koonce (knee) is OUT. But he isn’t the only one. He will be joined by rookie guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (illness) and rookie fourth round CB DeCamerion Richardson (hamstring).

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Rookie fifth round pick Tommy Eichenberg (knee) is officially Questionable for the Raiders.

The Chargers will be without starting receiver DJ Chark for the game. Which means the starting receivers will be Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer.

They also have a couple cornerbacks who are questionable, including starter Asante Samuel who was limited Friday with a shoulder injury.

Chris Olave and Michael Thomas torch expensive Chargers secondary in joint practice

Saints wideouts Chris Olave and Michael Thomas torched the expensive Chargers secondary in Thursday’s joint practice session | @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints took the field for a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers and one thing became clear: the Chargers secondary could not match up with the Saints wide receivers Chris Olave and Michael Thomas.

Per charting from NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, Olave won all of his reps in one-on-one drills. He lined up across from third-year cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and dominated, drawing a pass interference on the only pass to fall incomplete. It didn’t go much better

Thomas worked against Derwin James and J.C. Jackson — two of the league’s highest-paid defensive backs, James having inked a four-year, $76 million extension while Jackson arrived in L.A. with a five-year, $82.5 million deal — and looked like the Thomas of old, running ankle-breaking routes. James, believed by many to be the best safety in the league, didn’t stand a chance.

It’s an encouraging start for the two former Ohio State Buckeyes. Thomas and Olave will have the opportunity to do it in a game setting when the two teams face off on Sunday night at 6:05 p.m. ET.

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3 underrated options for the Saints in first round of 2021 NFL draft

With the 2021 NFL draft upon us, what are some underrated options the New Orleans Saints could consider with the 28th overall pick?

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The New Orleans Saints are currently set to draft their first player in the 2021 NFL draft with the 28th pick. Despite rumors and reports that the Saints could draft up to be within the top 10 picks, here are some underrated players the Saints could target if t hey stay at the back of first round.

WR Kadarius Toney, Florida

New Orleans currently has obvious holes at cornerback, linebacker and wide receiver. If the Saints feel like the bets player available at 28 is a wide receiver, then it seems likely they would pull the trigger on a player like Toney. The Florida product is a big-play threat that would fit well into a new offensive scheme built around Jameis Winston. If one of the top cornerbacks or linebackers is unavailable, Toney could be a sleeper pick.

DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington

With the departure of team sack leader Trey Hendrickson and veteran Sheldon Rankins to free agency, the Saints could use some help on the defensive line. While not as obvious a hole on the roster, the defensive line will have to be addressed and Onwuzurike is one of the top tackles in this year’s draft and would be an optimal replacement for Rankins.

CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State

Depending on how much the Saints value the cornerback position, they could take Samuel before his projected draft slot. With the loss of Janoris Jenkins due to cap space, New Orleans could be forced to make a move out of desperation and reach for a player to fill a position of need. Keeping the window of contention open could mean the Saints make a move of desperation.

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Sean Payton on Saints draft needs: ‘Corner is an area that we have to address’

The Saints have glaring holes on the roster, Sean Payton tipped his hand as to which direction the Saints may go in the 2021 NFL draft.

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With the 2021 NFL draft rapidly approaching, the New Orleans Saints have an opportunity to address some of the holes on their roster. With the majority of high-impact free agents already signed, that leaves the upcoming draft as the best time to add a roster-altering talent to the team.

Saints head coach Sean Payton occasionally lets on to what the team plans for the draft, but sometimes the need is so glaring he doesn’t risk giving much away by bluntly saying it.

“There’s one (priority),” Payton told Luke Johnson of the Advocate | Times-Picayune after golfing at the recent Zurich Classic. “Look, corner is an area that we have to address here between now and the start of the season, and I think we’ll be able to find that.”

The only lockdown corner that New Orleans currently has rostered is Marshon Lattimore. His recent arrest in Cleveland raises questions about his availability. After the release of Janoris Jenkins, cornerback was always going to be the priority this offseason, even more so than linebacker and wide receiver. The Saints’ only other options with starting experience are backups Patrick Robinson and P.J. Williams.

So that suggests the Saints might target a cornerback in the first round of the draft, and they might even need to trade up to get the right prospect. If you have been keeping up, the Saints Wire crew just took that exact path in our final mock draft. Prospects to watch in a first round trade would include Greg Newsome II and Caleb Farley, though Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II are expected to go much higher. Realistic options at No. 28 could be Asante Samuel Jr. and Eric Stokes, though Stokes’ teammate Tyson Campbell has been a late riser in media circles despite poor college numbers (11 passes defensed in 33 games, compared to 25 breakups in 24 games for Farley). And if the Saints can’t find a high-end corner early in the draft, veterans like Richard Sherman are still available in free agency.

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Asante Samuel Jr. is a popular pick for the Saints in latest NFL mock drafts

Florida State CB prospect Asante Samuel Jr. is a common pick for the New Orleans Saints in 2021 NFL mock drafts, but who will they select?

The 2021 NFL draft is just weeks away, so it’s time for another update as mock drafts continue to filter in from around the league’s orbit. Cornerback has become a go-to position for the Saints in recent mock drafts, with linebacker not too far behind in priority; there’s little consensus, though, with New Orleans taking enough hits in free agency to justify reinforcements across the board.

Here are the latest Saints mock draft picks; which prospects would you like to see wearing black and gold once the first round wraps up?

Report: Saints schedule meeting with top CB prospect Asante Samuel Jr.

The New Orleans Saints have reportedly scheduled a virtual meeting with Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr, a top 2021 NFL draft prospect.

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The Spun’s Chris Rosvoglou reports that the New Orleans Saints have a virtual interview coming up soon with Florida State standout Asante Samuel Jr., one of the best cornerback prospects in the 2021 NFL draft.

Samuel might not be the first cornerback off the board — that distinction likely belongs to another NFL veteran’s son, South Carolina corner Jaycee Horn — but it’s not unimaginable. He’s that talented. Despite his physical limitations (listed at 5-foot-10, 184 pounds) he brings great short-area movement skills and a rare ability to read and react to plays as they’re happening. He’s recorded 29 passes defensed in his career and is an able tackler.

He also proved he can line up in the slot and out on the boundary, having covered the slot on 76% and 77% of his snaps during his first two years before primarily playing outside as a junior (moving to the slot on just 3% of snaps). It’s also worth noting that he set career highs in interceptions (3) and fumbles (2 recovered, 1 forced) in just 8 games last season.

So could he be an option at the 28th pick? Maybe, depending on how highly the Saints regard him. But he might make more sense as a second-round prospect depending on who is available. New Orleans needs more corners with uncertain contract status for both Marshon Lattimore (entering the final year of his deal) and Janoris Jenkins (possible salary cap cut). Adding a good player like Samuel to the mix would be worth considering.

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