Chicago Bears 2021 NFL Draft: Day 2 cornerback targets
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears Day 2 Cornerback Targets: Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
Asante Samuel Jr. is, of course, the son of former Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, and you can tell football is in his blood. The Florida State product makes it his mission to bully opposing receivers every chance he gets, and this kid is not shy when it comes to contact.
He is a bit undersized at 5-foot-10, which makes him a candidate to play mostly in the nickel. Seeing as though the Bears have a hole there now, Samuel would slide right in and probably play quite a bit.
Samuel is as physical and aggressive as they come at the cornerback position. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein uses the term “fist fight” when describing how Samuel treats individual battles with receivers.
He is a do-it-all type of cornerback who, again, would succeed most in the slot. But, his ball skills are certainly there. Samuel totaled 29 passes defensed in 31 career games at Florida State, and he didn’t even start in all of those contests.
The biggest thing he’ll have to improve upon as a pro is ensuring he looks back at the quarterback while staying with his receiver. His physicality can get him in trouble at times, reminiscent of a young Buster Skrine, funny enough. If Samuel can learn to stay a bit more disciplined, he’ll be a fine nickel corner as a pro.