2021 NFL Draft: Asante Samuel Jr. scouting report

Who Is Asante Samuel Jr.?

Asante Samuel Jr. was one of the few bright spots for the Florida State Seminoles over the last couple of seasons and his stellar play has led to him being one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Over the course of his career, Samuel proved to be a real playmaker for FSU, deflecting 29 passes and coming down with four interceptions in just 23 starts (31 appearances).

Samuel’s ability to track down the football should come as no surprise; his father played 11 years in the NFL at the same position, tallying 51 interceptions and going nine straight seasons with double-digit pass deflections. He made four Pro-Bowls and was an All-Pro back in 2007.

His NFL bloodlines are just one of the many reasons that make Asante Samuel Jr. such an intriguing prospect at the next level. Let’s dive a little deeper into what he can offer teams as we near the 2021 NFL Draft.

Strengths

The first things that stand out when watching Asante Samuel Jr. are his quick feet and fluidity when flipping his hips to track downfield. There weren’t very many examples of guys getting separation from Samuel deep because even if he was beaten on a break, he was able to make up ground in a hurry. He always seemed to be right on the hip of his man, which is proven by his class low 46.2 passer rating in coverage last season.

Samuel is also pretty competitive against the run as well, which is somewhat surprising considering his size. He doesn’t shy away from work at the line of scrimmage and does well to get downhill when attacking plays out of the flat. He shows patient eyes and proved to be as instinctive as any corner in this cycle.

Sprinkle in his scheme versatility and the fact that he will likely run really well at FSU’s Pro Day and you have the makings of some potential first-round buzz ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Weaknesses

Asante Samuel Jr. is a little undersized at just 5-foot-10 and 184 pounds, so many will only view him as a nickel option at the next level. While I do think he plays a little bigger than he is, Samuel did have some trouble matching the physicality of some of the more imposing pass catchers he lined up across during his career at FSU.

Samuel proved to have some scheme versatility with the Seminoles but definitely looked at his most comfortable in man coverage. That’s not to say he can’t play in a heavy zone-scheme but he will need to improve his timing and spacing when he gets to the next level.

For as impactful as Asante Samuel Jr. can be as a playmaker, he did leave some plays out on the field because of some late adjustments when the ball came his way. He won’t be able to get away with his head getting around late at the next level, so it’s certainly something he will need to correct.

Projection

While I do believe Asante Samuel Jr. has the tools to play the boundary at the next level, I think he projects best as a versatile nickel due to his smaller frame and his limitations in press coverage. His quickness, ball skills, and instincts would be a welcome addition for any team looking for a corner that can lineup anywhere he’s needed and make plays. He’s currently projected to be a Day-2 option by most, however, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him sneak into the first round if there is an early run on the top cornerbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft.