FRISCO – The No. 1 reason the Dallas Cowboys haven’t signed a still-on-the-shelf veteran cornerback? They want to see what they have in the young guys presently on the roster.

A new No. 1 reason, though, from the perspective of Los Angeles Chargers free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.?

He wants to wait, too.

Samuel, the former second-round pick and the son of a former NFL star, remains available on the open market for a very specific reason.

In the case of a Dallas reunion with, say, Stephon Gilmore? That is about working through the guys who are already here, including rookie draft pick Shavon Revel, who is rehabbing his knee in hopes of being ready for the NFL regular season.

There are other injury question marks here, too, with Trevon Diggs rehabbing his knee while planning on a return that might take until mid-season.

DaRon Bland is a standout. Young Caelen Carson needs to be better.

Cowboys Nation’s hunger for a move now is understandable.

But as it relates to Samuel? A delay is understandable, and here’s why …

Samuel has his own injury concerns of his own. He played just four games last year, and while he visited the Saints on Monday, ESPN says his current plan is for him to wait until the summer before deciding on a move for the season.

All of this is related to having had surgery on his neck in April.

It is Samuel’s position that he’ll be fine for 2025. But the 2021 second-round pick of the Chargers, who has six interceptions in his 50 regular-season games, can’t really know that.

Nor can the Cowboys.

Spotrac has projected Samuel to get a four-year, $46 million deal in free agency. That seems nonsensical to us, all things considered. But if it’s true? Dallas won’t get involved.

When would Dallas get involved? Only if and when Samuel proves to be healthy and cheap, and only if and when the Cowboys’ secondary proves to be needy.