Asante Samuel Jr. would be a strong addition to the Dallas Cowboys secondary thanks to his proven success in zone coverage under Jesse Minter — the same defensive style Matt Eberflus runs in Dallas.
A Scheme Match Built on Experience
The Dallas Cowboys should continue to evaluate ways to strengthen their secondary. One name stands out as a natural schematic fit — Asante Samuel Jr.
After thriving in a zone-heavy defensive system under Jesse Minter with the Los Angeles Chargers, Samuel’s experience and skill set align perfectly with what Matt Eberflus is building in Dallas.
Eberflus, much like Minter, relies heavily on disciplined zone concepts, pattern-matching coverages, and defensive backs who play with high football IQ.
He prioritizes corners who can read the quarterback’s eyes, anticipate routes, and keep plays in front of them — exactly the type of player Samuel has proven to be.
Now fully healthy, Samuel’s familiarity with zone-heavy systems and his ability to excel within them make him an intriguing target for the Cowboys as they look to rebound from inconsistent coverage play in 2024.
Proven Zone Coverage Production
During his time with the Chargers, Samuel became known for his spatial awareness and anticipation. He wasn’t a pure man-to-man press corner; he was a technician who thrived with vision on the quarterback.
His ability to drop into space, bait throws, and trigger downhill made him a reliable zone defender capable of flipping momentum with timely interceptions and pass breakups.
According to Pro Football Focus, Samuel ranked among the top defensive backs in forced incompletions and coverage snaps per touchdown allowed during his final full season in Los Angeles.
His intelligence and instincts allowed him to excel despite facing elite quarterbacks in the AFC West — a testament to his football IQ and positioning skills.
In Eberflus’ defense, those same strengths would shine. The Cowboys’ system asks corners to pass off routes, communicate across zones, and react quickly to layered route combinations. Samuel has done all of that before — and succeeded.
The Perfect Piece for a Defensive Turnaround
The Cowboys don’t need another developmental corner — they need a player who can step in immediately, understand the coverage structure, and elevate the unit’s consistency.
Because of his background under Minter, Samuel would require little to no adjustment period in Eberflus’ scheme. His experience in a nearly identical defensive philosophy makes him plug-and-play ready.
Paired with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, Samuel would give Dallas one of the most instinctive and versatile cornerback trios in the league.
His steady zone technique and ability to stay disciplined on double moves would help eliminate the explosive plays that plagued Dallas last season.
Asante Samuel Jr. isn’t just another talented corner — he’s the perfect piece for a defensive turnaround. His zone mastery, football intelligence, and familiarity with Minter’s system translate directly to what Matt Eberflus wants in Dallas.
Adding Samuel would not only bring stability, but also restore the Cowboys’ defensive identity heading into 2025.
I agree!! I’ve been wanting him on our team since the draft!! And we had the chance to draft him too, but passed on him for a nobody!! We have the chance to make up for it now, but it don’t look like we’re one of the teams interested in signing him!! I seen a decent sized list of teams he’s supposed to interview with, and we’re not one of them!! But hopefully the list I seen didn’t show all the teams, and if it did, then hopefully the front office changes their minds and decides to try to get him!! I would much rather have Samuel than Reddy Steward in the secondary!! But I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens!! I’m just not gonna get my hopes up!!
Another player that would make our secondary better is Stephon Gilmore!! He’s played in every scheme there is to be played in, and he’s been good in all of them!! But he plays on the outside and Samuel plays in the slot!! So we could sign both of them and have one of the best secondaries in the NFL!! But again, I’m not gonna get my hopes up!! It would be a smart move though!!
Totally agree. I don’t understand why Gilmore wasn’t a preseason sign. Even in his latter careers years I believe it is fair to say he could still be at least an average CB. I would like for them to see if Samuel can still play and sign him to an extension if he produces. This may allow the team to not consider CB as a position to devote resources in the upcoming draft.