Packers have second virtual meeting with CB Asante Samuel Jr.
The Green Bay Packers will have plenty of options when it comes to addressing the cornerback position in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.
A player to watch is Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr. The talented cornerback has been regularly picked for the Packers in mock drafts across the internet, and for good reason. Samuel paired with Jaire Alexander would give Green Bay a phenomenal starting duo at the position.
And it sure seems like the Packers have some interest in Samuel.
According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Packers have recently met virtually with Samuel. Notably, this is the second meeting they’ve had with him.
This tells us the Packers are doing all their homework on Samuel, a prospect who could be on the board when they pick for the first time at No. 29 overall.
Despite being undersized, it doesn’t mean Samuel can’t be a starter on the outside. In fact, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah wrote that he has a “very high football IQ and the skill set to start outside or in the slot”.
And as Samuel pointed out himself, he’s the same size as Alexander.
FSU CB Asante Samuel Jr. says he's the same size as Packers CB Jaire Alexander who he categorized as a dominant outside CB. "Size doesn't matter. I'm a dog."
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 19, 2021
Perhaps they’ll soon be on the field together in Green Bay.
Samuel has played in 20 games at Florida State over the past two seasons, in which he made 20 pass defenses and four interceptions. Following the 2020 season, Samuel was named a first-team All-ACC.
In recent drafts, the Packers have wasted the majority of their early-round picks at cornerback, with Alexander being the one exception.
As a result, cornerback is again a need for this team entering the draft. They could, and probably should, look to strengthen the position inside the opening three rounds. One player they could target early in the draft is Asante Samuel Jr., and he’s now met with the Packers virtually twice.