The Chicago Bears face mounting criticism for their inactivity at the trade deadline, particularly regarding the cornerback position. With three cornerbacks currently on injured reserve, including starters Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, the Bears have had to make adjustments within their defensive lineup. Recent games have highlighted vulnerabilities in the secondary, especially during a high-scoring Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, where quarterback Joe Flacco passed for an impressive 470 yards, exposing cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright, each yielding over 100 yards to opposing receivers.
In response to these challenges, the Bears have brought in safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to play as a slot cornerback, and he performed admirably against the Bengals. However, the inconsistency of Stevenson and Wright raises concerns about the Bears’ secondary capabilities. To address this pressing need, the team is reportedly evaluating free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who is currently visiting multiple teams, including NFC North rivals the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
Samuel, who underwent spinal fusion surgery last year, has been cleared to play and was initially a promising second-round pick for the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite only appearing in four games last season, he has accumulated significant stats throughout his career, including 176 tackles and six interceptions over 50 games. While he is not primarily known for being a ball hawk, Samuel is recognized as one of the NFL’s top shutdown corners, a role that could significantly strengthen the Bears’ defense.
Chicago’s success hinges on their ability to secure Samuel’s services, especially as general manager Ryan Poles seeks to rectify the perceived misstep of not acquiring more help during the trade deadline. If successful, bringing Samuel into the fold alongside Stevenson, with Gardner-Johnson in the slot and reliable safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, could transform the Bears’ secondary landscape for the remainder of the season. The potential addition of Samuel represents a glimmer of hope for a team striving for improvement as the second half of the season approaches.