After a surprising 5-4 start to the 2025 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers find themselves at an interesting point with half of the season left this year.
The Panthers have managed to win four of their last five games, with the most recent victory coming against the Green Bay Packers. This impressive stretch puts Carolina in ninth place amongst the NFC, trailing the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears.
Despite this sudden rise, general manager Dan Morgan decided to stay put during Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. However, this has not impacted the front offices’ aspirations to win this season, as Mogan and company continue to browse the free agent market.
According to The Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye, the Panthers hosted cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. for a visit on Wednesday.
Samuel, the son of former NFL standout Asante Samuel, was originally selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. Throughout his time with the organization, the 26-year-old veteran recorded 176 tackles, 37 pass breakups, and six interceptions.
Unfortunately for Samuel, he would struggle to stay healthy in the final year of his rookie deal, as he played in just four games last season. This caused the Chargers to not resign him due to lingering medical issues.
What Samuel Brings to The Table
With Samuel recently being cleared, the Panthers saw a prime opportunity to add a veteran cornerback to their secondary unit. Outside of star cornerback Jaycee Horn, Carolina’s defensive back rotation could use extra help.
Mike Jackson has shown signs of promise at times this year, but the addition of Samuel gives defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero much-needed depth if the young playmaker decides to sign with the Panthers.
In addition to visiting Carolina, Samuel is also set to visit with the Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
If the Panthers can sway Samuel away from the two NFC North powerhouses, he would serve as a perfect complementary piece to Horn and the rest of the secondary.
With the front seven doing a better job of pressuring the quarterback this season, Carolina’s defensive backs have greatly benefited, as they have allowed an average of 208.5 passing yards per game. Signing Samuel would only elevate the current defense, making him a player to keep an eye on this week.