As the defense continues to be at the forefront of likely upgrades for the Patriots this offseason, potential help has now extended to the secondary. Although the roster is packed with talent, with cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez and safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers ready to lead the way, there is still room for more depth to be added.

That has made the Patriots a possible destination for some top names that remain unsigned for the upcoming season, including Asante Samuel Jr., who spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Chargers.

The 2021 second-round pick was considered a favorite for the Patriots simply due to his connection to the team from his father, who put together an impressive tenure with the team during the peak of the dynasty. But his issues with Bill Belichick stemming from the end of his time in New England may have played a role in Jr. not being a Patriots draft pick.

Now that he’s a free agent for the first time, the new regime might take an interest in adding much-needed depth to their cornerback room. However, some analysts advise avoiding the risk, especially after Samuel Jr.’s latest surgery.

The risk of signing Asante Samuel Jr. might not be worth it for the Patriots

There is a lot to like about the Patriots’ bringing in another young talent with high potential to their defense, as that is the apparent goal they had throughout free agency and the draft. So, the possibility of Samuel Jr. suiting up with the team this fall is intriguing.

However, Brian Hines of Pats Pulpit made it clear that the Patriots should not consider it, despite the hole Samuel could possibly fill due to some concerns with his play-making ability and injury history.

“I do think the nickel corner spot remains one that could be upgraded at some point here. Marcus Jones may not be the future at that spot due to his injury history as he enters the final year of his contract while options behind him remain largely unproven. I’m not sure if Samuel, who has spent the majority of his career out wide, is that guy due to his concerns as a tackler, especially now coming off neck surgery.”

Although weaknesses in performance shouldn’t deter a team from signing a player with immense potential, recovering from a serious injury should. That’s the case with the Patriots and Samuel, as a neck injury is not easy to come back from.

As Hines stated, it’s probably a better idea to avoid the risk because we will not know how he will play until after he’s signed. That would be too late for Vrabel and Co. to decide it was a mistake since they’d then be on the hook for his salary, and he could have taken a spot on the roster from someone who would have been a better or more productive fit.

There is a chance Samuel could receive a one-year deal from a team hoping he can develop into being the shut-down starter they need or a rotational depth piece for their secondary. If that’s the case and he performs well, perhaps the Patriots could look at signing him next year. But given their needs on defense right now, taking a big risk on a player who would need to play an essential role on the roster might not be wise.