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New England Patriots Named Potential Fit for $11.5 Million Defender

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Evan Massey | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 8:00 AM ET

The New England Patriots have been very busy this offseason. After replacing Jerod Mayo with Mike Vrabel at head coach, the Patriots have been extremely aggressive in free agency.

Vrabel and company already look much better than they did at the end of the 2024 season. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

One of the big offseason additions for New England was the signing of cornerback Carlton Davis. Could the Patriots consider trying to bring in another defensive back?

That is what one new suggestion would have them doing.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has suggested New England as a potential landing spot for free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.

"Only 25 years old and with 37 passes defended on his resume, Samuel should be worth a flier in New England," Knox wrote. "He could be a long-term contributor and would be a fine addition to a cornerback room that now includes Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis."

Samuel would be a very intriguing addition. He is coming off of a 2024 season in which he played just four games. Back in 2023, however, he played a full 17-game season and racked up 63 total tackles to go along with two interceptions and 13 defended passes.

What would it take to sign Samuel? Spotrac has his projected value at around $11.5 million per season.

With the free agency period winding down, it's possible that the Patriots could land him at a cheaper price. Either way, he's worth a short-term deal to see how he would fit within the new defense.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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