One thing that continues to be proven true about the NFL? The bloodlines run deep. Look across the league and it won’t be hard to find the sons or nephews of former great players. Jake Matthews is a Pro Bowl left tackle in Atlanta. His father Bruce was a Hall of Fame guard and center. Kyle Long, a three-time Pro Bowler, is the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long. The Chicago Bears understand the value of genetics in this league.
It could be they may have designs on trying to exploit it again. Justin Melo of The Draft Network revealed that they have been in contact with Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. For those who don’t recall, Asante Samuel is a former two-time All-Pro cornerback. He won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and finished his career with 51 interceptions.
Not hard to understand why his son is getting some attention.
https://twitter.com/JustinM_NFL/status/1371546876177223689
Don’t be fooled though. Samuel Jr. can play. He proved as much the past two years at Florida State where he collected four interceptions and 20 passes defended. While not overly big at 5’10, he doesn’t play that size. Samuel Jr. throws his body around like he is five inches taller and 30 lbs heavier. He isn’t afraid to hit and doesn’t shirk his responsibilities against the run.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Athletically, he has the tools. While not overly fast, he has enough speed to hang with wide receivers in man coverage. Just like his father he has that air of being a pest. The instincts, quickness, and fluidity are all there. His skillset would fit right in with the Bears’ preferences for their defensive backs.
Chicago Bears may have designs on Samuel Jr. on day two
It isn’t a shock the Bears would be interested here. Their cornerback position appears on the verge of some upheaval. Buster Skrine was already released. They have questions at their nickel corner spot. Duke Shelley and Kindle Vildor remain unknown quantities. Kyle Fuller creeps closer to his 30s and Jaylon Johnson, while very promising, has a history of shoulder problems.
So adding more depth and competition at corner would be a prudent move. Samuel Jr. appears poised to go somewhere on Day 2 of the upcoming draft. Either the 2nd or 3rd rounds given his talent and productivity. If the Bears were somehow able to snag him in the 3rd, that could end up being a steal. His ability comes across as that of a long-term starter in the NFL.
It will be interesting to see how the draft unfolds for him.
Right now it appears the Chicago Bears will remain focused on improving the offense. All signs point to that given the recent rumors with offensive tackles and quarterbacks dominating the discussions. This will be an offseason where the defense must take a back seat. If the offense doesn’t improve, then Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace will likely wave goodbye to their jobs in 2020. Stacking the defense isn’t going to help them at this point.