Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
We play out more NFL draft scenarios in this simulation,
Including this weekend, there are only two left before the 2021 NFL draft and we have another mock draft simulation that goes all seven rounds. In this simulation, we make three trades. The Cardinals trade down twice in the first round and then trade up from the third round to the second round.
In all, they make seven picks in the draft and cover a lot of needs.
This is one of the few times Asante Samuel Jr. has been given a first-round grade.
The Tennessee Titans will already have some notable differences within the team heading into the 2021 NFL season with the departures from the roster earlier this offseason.
But though some players have gone on to continue their careers elsewhere, the Titans will also be bringing in some new faces as the draft begins on April 29.
All eyes will be on what Jon Robinson’s team decides to do with its first-round pick, and there’s a decent chance the Titans could opt to improve the secondary.
One way they can do this is by adding a defensive back, which is exactly what Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire has them doing.
In his latest mock draft, Farrar has the Titans selecting Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. at No. 22 overall.
Here’s a look at what Farrar had to say about the potential selection, who could do well in an area Malcolm Butler was once responsible for:
In 2020, the Titans’ cornerbacks were… well, not very good. Including the postseason, the group allowed 18 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, and Malcolm Butler, the recipient of five of those interceptions, now plays for the Cardinals. The Titans were even worse in the slot, allowing five touchdowns to no interceptions. At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Samuel looks like a slot cornerback, but he has the mentality and abilities of an outside defender. In 2020, with 466 snaps as an outside cornerback and just 37 snaps anywhere else, Samuel allowed only 19 receptions on 32 targets for 179 yards, 81 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 46.2.
This is one of the few times we’ve seen an analyst give Samuel Jr. a first-round grade. Most of the time the Florida State product has been tabbed as a second-round pick, and one the Titans could make at No. 53 overall.
Last season with the Seminoles, Samuel totaled 30 tackles (22 solo) with one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, six passes defended and three interceptions.
Over three seasons at Florida State, he tallied 93 tackles (69 solo), 29 passes defensed and four interceptions.
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The Carolina Panthers are not done at cornerback.
The Carolina Panthers are not done at cornerback. Even after signing veteran A.J. Bouye to a steal of a two-year, $7 million deal, the team has continued showing interest in some of this year’s cornerback prospects.
According to Justin Melo at The Draft Network, Carolina is one of several teams that have met Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. twice in a virtual setting.
#FSU CB Asante Samuel Jr. has recently met virtually with #CAR, #BUF & #GB for the 2nd time each. Also met w/ #IND for the first time.
Prev reported: #LAR x2, #PIT, #NYG, #SEA, #ATL, #MIA, #PHI, #LAC x2, #TEN, #BAL, #DEN, #NO, #WFT, #ARZ x2, #CIN, #DET, #KC, #CHI, #SF x2 & #CLE.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 12, 2021
Time is a precious commodity at this stage before the draft, so we can assume this is genuine interest in Samuel, who was also recently picked by the Panthers in round two of an ESPN mock draft.
While Bouye fills a major hole outside, Samuel (5-foot-10, 183 pounds) could do the same for Carolina in the slot. He’s not the only nickel the team has their eye on, though. The Panthers have also met virtually with Oregon’s Deommodore Lenoir and freak kick returner Avery Williams of Boise State.
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Indy met with Asante Samuel Jr. ahead of the draft.
The Indianapolis Colts met virtually with former Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. ahead of the 2021 NFL draft, per Justin Melo of The Draft Network.
Making the rounds through prospects as the draft approaches, the Colts are likely to keep an eye on the cornerback position at the end of April. They re-signed Xavier Rhodes to a one-year deal, but the secondary is still a major question mark.
#FSU CB Asante Samuel Jr. has recently met virtually with #CAR, #BUF & #GB for the 2nd time each. Also met w/ #IND for the first time.
Prev reported: #LAR x2, #PIT, #NYG, #SEA, #ATL, #MIA, #PHI, #LAC x2, #TEN, #BAL, #DEN, #NO, #WFT, #ARZ x2, #CIN, #DET, #KC, #CHI, #SF x2 & #CLE.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 12, 2021
Samuel Jr. seems to be a hot commodity around the league. He’s had multiple meetings with several teams, though it seems he’s met with the Colts just once throughout the pre-draft process.
The son of former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel came out with modest measureables at his pro day. He came in at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds with 30 1/8-inch arms. His 40-yard dash time seems to be all over the place. Some had him with an unofficial 4.38 while others have him with a 4.41 and even up to a 4.45.
Samuel Jr. likely won’t be a player the Colts consider with the No. 21 overall pick. There are more pressing needs and likely to be better prospects available at the time but seeing as cornerback is a relatively high need for Indy, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them use a Day 2 pick on the Florida State product if they like him enough.
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2021 NFL Draft cornerback prospect Asante Samuel Jr. has pre-draft meeting with Buffalo Bills.
If meeting with a prospect once is worth noting, doing so twice certainly is as well. That’s where we’re at with cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and the Bills.
According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, the defensive back and Buffalo have chatted more than once so far during the pre-draft buildup.
While the Bills evidently have big interest in him, they’re not alone. Reportedly as many as 21 teams in the league have talked to Samuel, with several of them having done so twice like Buffalo:
#FSU CB Asante Samuel Jr. has recently met virtually with #CAR, #BUF & #GB for the 2nd time each. Also met w/ #IND for the first time.
Prev reported: #LAR x2, #PIT, #NYG, #SEA, #ATL, #MIA, #PHI, #LAC x2, #TEN, #BAL, #DEN, #NO, #WFT, #ARZ x2, #CIN, #DET, #KC, #CHI, #SF x2 & #CLE.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 12, 2021
In Samuel, the Bills are talking to a guy who’s fully in play for their first-round pick at No. 30 overall. So far, the Bills only have Dane Jackson and Levi Wallace at the No. 2 spot. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane said Jackson will get a chance to compete for snaps there next season, but nobody is just going to be handed a job.
Bringing in Samuel or another cornerback to compete is certainly a possibility with the draft around the corner. Samuel specifically could be a good pick because he can also play nickel cornerback. While in some defensive schemes the nickel spot isn’t a starting role, it is in Sean McDermott’s defense. That versatility to play inside and outside is another reason the Bills would be attracted the Samuel’s skills.
In 2020, the ball-hawking Samuel had three interceptions to go along with 30 tackles and six passes defended in eight games. A year prior in 2019, Samuel had 14 passes defended.
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Buffalo Bills select CB Asante Samuel Jr. in 2021 NFL Draft mock.
The Buffalo Bills moves have left few holes on the roster. However, another mock draft reveals that the No. 2 cornerback spot opposite Tre’Davious White is a spot where the Bills could stand to improve.
Peter Schrager of NFL Network’s Good Morning Football sees Buffalo taking cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. in his most recent mock draft. The Florida State product would instantly compete with Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson for first-team reps. Here’s Schrager’s analysis of the pick:
Samuel can play multiple positions in the defensive backfield and had an outstanding season in 2020, giving up just 179 yards in eight games, per PFF. He also had an impressive pro day to back up the solid career in Tallahassee.
Samuel Jr. intercepted a career-best three passes during the 2020 campaign with the Seminoles. In three seasons, Samuel, Jr. was credited with 29 passes defensed. He was named a First-Team All-ACC player for his work during last year.
Samuel Jr. plays well in man coverage, and he can be relied upon to work one-on-one against receivers. The Draft Network highlights Samuel Jr. could improve upon zone coverage and working on some technical aspects of his game. However, he would have a veteran crew of players in the secondary to learn from if Samuel Jr. were to land in Buffalo. His ability to start right away could give the Bills one of the most complete starting secondary units in the league.
The next great cornerback out of @FSUFootball?
Asante Samuel Jr. is making his case as a top @NFLDraft prospect. @godschild3_ pic.twitter.com/NKEARuSy69
— NFL (@NFL) March 24, 2021
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The Atlanta Falcons could make a legacy pick in the early rounds of the NFL draft by taking Asante Samuel Jr. out of Florida State.
The Atlanta Falcons could make a legacy pick in the early rounds of the NFL draft by taking Asante Samuel Jr. out of Florida State. The Seminoles cornerback’s father played for the Falcons in 2012 and 2013 to finish out his career, but Atlanta could take his son this time around. Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot would be getting a starting-caliber CB with potential to be better than his father.
The best use of their draft capital after addressing QB and LT should be taking a versatile cornerback prospect.
The Carolina Panthers are expected to use their first-round draft pick this year on either a quarterback or a left tackle. While there’s always a case to go best player available, doing anything else at No. 8 this year would be a little bit crazy given the team’s situation. Where they go from there is more of an open question, though.
For our money the team’s next-most dire needs are on the back end of their defense. The best use of their draft capital after addressing QB and LT should be taking a versatile cornerback prospect. In Todd McShay’s new two-round mock draft at ESPN, Carolina picks Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr. in round two at No. 39.
“Both of the Panthers’ projected starting corners — Rashaan Melvin and Donte Jackson — could be free agents in 2022, and Samuel is an instinctive corner with great change-of-direction skills. Plus, Samuel can slide into a nickel role if needed.”
That last quality McShay mentions is a critical one, as Carolina has a need both in the slot and on the outside.
Samuel (5-foot-10, 184 pounds) can do both but is better-suited to defend the slot. In college, he totaled four interceptions and 29 pass breakups in 31 games with the Seminoles. His father was an All-Pro cornerback who won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.
Let’s take a look at some of Samuel’s college tape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSEcbZaBH4M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjyxv0J93jI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxX560XGqWo
Pro Football Focus has Samuel ranked as the fifth-best corner in this class.
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The Los Angeles Chargers have spoken with the former Florida State product twice.
The Chargers will be looking to bolster the cornerback room in this year’s draft, and they could have their eyes set on a specific player to do so.
According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, Los Angeles has not only had a pre-draft meeting with former Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr. once, but twice.
A lot of the meetings, which are all done virtually this year due to COVID-19, are to be taken with a grain of salt. However, when a team meets with a prospect two times, it indicates they’re clearly on their radar.
Solid pass breakup on a 1on1 ball in the end zone from FSU CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Colbert and Tomlin were both at FSU’s pro day. pic.twitter.com/lbV7O3spJk
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) March 27, 2021
In three years at Florida State, Samuel Jr. finished with 97 total tackles (71 solo), three tackles for loss, four interceptions, 29 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Despite being a tad undersized to NFL standards, Samuel Jr. is a complete cover corner who excels in man coverage with mirror-match skills, foot quickness, reactive athleticism and reliability in run support, projecting as a starter on the outside who can kick inside.
Samuel Jr. projects as a top-50 selection.
Could Arizona follow Tampa Bay’s example in the 2018 and 2019 drafts?
In 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted two cornerbacks. In 2019, they again selected two corners. That worked out pretty well didn’t it?
None of the cornerbacks they drafted — Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting in 2019 and M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis in 2018 — have been Pro Bowlers or All-Pros yet, but Murphy-Bunting and Davis were both a part of their Super Bowl run last year.
Could the Arizona Cardinals follow this plan this year?
There are many reasons it would make sense for Arizona to do so.
The most practical reason is that Arizona essentially needs two starting outside cornerbacks beyond this season. Despite the recent signing of Malcolm Butler, he and Robert Alford are only on one-year deals.
We saw that last season, despite signing linebacker DeVondre Campbell, they still selected linebacker Isaiah Simmons with the eighth overall pick.
Another reason is that this draft appears to be deep at cornerback. The Cardinals could, should the chips fall this way, have their pick of one of the consensus top 3 corners in this class in Jaycee Horn (most frequently mocked to Arizona), Caleb Farley (who could fall after a recent surgery) or Patrick Surtain.
They could pair one of the above with a second rounder such as Greg Newsome (who they have met with) or Asante Samuel Jr. (should he fall to pick No. 49) as an example.
It’s not without precedent for Arizona to draft more than one player from a position group, having drafted two defensive linemen last year, three wide receivers in 2019, two offensive linemen in 2018 and two cornerbacks in 2016.
What do you think Cardinals fans? Could Arizona (or should they) draft more than one cornerback in 2021?
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