Rumor: Eagles linked to corner with deep ties to the franchise

The Eagles might be circling back to a familiar name this summer — and if the rumors are true, things could be coming full circle in the secondary.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Philadelphia has Asante Samuel Jr. on its radar as a potential late-July signing. He mentioned it during a spot on 97.5 The Fanatic, casually tossing out Samuel’s name among a handful of DBs the team has considered. And while names like Jaire Alexander and Justin Simmons might’ve grabbed early offseason headlines, it’s Samuel who actually makes the most sense for what the Eagles are doing right now.

Samuel to the Eagles makes a ton of sense

The fit is obvious. The connection is deep. The timeline is perfect.

Samuel Jr., still just 25 years old, is coming off a neck injury that derailed his 2023 season. But before that, he was flashing elite ball skills and sticky man coverage as a Charger. Now he’s unsigned, and more importantly — affordable. Which is exactly the kind of move Howie Roseman loves to make when everyone’s already moved on.

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And let’s not ignore the legacy factor here. His dad — Asante Samuel Sr. — was a flat-out dog in midnight green, locking down wideouts and racking up picks from 2008 to 2011. Three Pro Bowls, one of the league’s top ball hawks, and a fan favorite in Philly to this day. You don’t think Jr. would love to carry on that legacy? You don’t think Linc crowds would eat that up?

This is more than just a nostalgic name drop. Samuel Jr. was mocked to the Eagles constantly back in 2021 — and a ton of fans thought he was a perfect fit for the defense then. Turns out, that might still be the case now. He’s athletic, instinctive, and plays with that twitchy confidence the Eagles have been missing at cornerback since, well, honestly since the first Samuel left.

But here’s the key part: this doesn’t need to happen right now. The Eagles have the luxury of waiting. Fowler even said the expected timeline for a deal would be late July — after OTAs, after early camp, once the team has a clear picture of where their secondary stands. If the younger corners show out? Great. If not? You pull the trigger on a guy who could step in and contribute immediately — with minimal disruption to the depth chart.

It’s classic Roseman. Calculated, value-driven, and culturally sound. No panic moves. No desperate splashes. Just measured aggression, waiting for the right player to fall into their lap.

And if that player ends up being Asante Samuel Jr. — well, I’m not saying it’s destiny or anything.

But I’m not not saying it either.