Forget the trade deadline. The Green Bay Packers can fix their cornerback problem without needing to give away draft assets.
General manager Brian Gutekunst will need to act quickly, but help could be on the way. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is fully cleared to return after undergoing a spinal fusion procedure.
According to Easton Butler of Packer Report, Green Bay is among the interested teams and will "plan a workout" with Samuel. It's clear the Packers understand their need at cornerback, and Samuel could be a game-changing addition to the defense.
Asante Samuel Jr. would instantly become the Packers' best cornerback
Cornerbacks as talented as Samuel rarely become available this late in the season. None of the realistic trade deadline targets offer the same upside as the former Los Angeles Charger.
Samuel hasn't played much in recent years. Injury limited him to four games in 2024, and he is only now cleared to return. However, if the 26-year-old can rediscover his best form, he would instantly become the Packers' best cover corner.
While he's had tackling issues in his career, there's no doubting Samuel's coverage ability. In 2023, his last fully healthy season, Samuel earned an excellent PFF coverage grade of 75.6, allowing four touchdowns but intercepting two passes and breaking up 11.
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That final part is what Green Bay's defense desperately lacks. The cornerbacks don't make enough plays on the ball — Samuel can provide that.
"Samuel has a playmaking mentality at cornerback, with the foot quickness and sudden closing speed to break on the ball," ESPN's Matt Bowen wrote before free agency in March.
Green Bay needs help in the secondary. Along with Keisean Nixon's frustrating, up-and-down play, free-agent addition Nate Hobbs was benched in favor of Carrington Valentine, and now Hobbs is dealing with an injury. According to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the veteran will miss at least two games with a sprained MCL.
That leaves the Packers with Nixon and Valentine as their only experienced boundary corners. Next off the bench would be Bo Melton, who has played seven offensive snaps but zero on defense this season, and Kamal Hadden, who has only 12 special teams snaps to his name in the NFL.
They need to add a veteran. Samuel wouldn't just provide depth, but he could become the Packers' best cornerback.