The Buffalo Bills aren't expected to bring back cornerback Rasul Douglas in free agency. The veteran remains unsigned but beyond what the Bills want to do from a roster perspective at this point.
With Douglas' departure, though, the Bills have a clear need at starting cornerback opposite their lockdown man in Christian Benford.
While there are plenty of options to choose from in the 2025 Draft, the Bills are being pushed to sign a veteran on the open market who is surprisingly still available at this point in the offseason.
In a recently column citing the best fits around the league, ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggested that former Los Angeles cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. would be a great fit for the organization this offseason.
"Unlike many of the other players in this conversation, Samuel is only 25 years old and entering the prime of his career. He wasn't spectacular during his time with the Chargers, but we didn't get to see him play much for new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter before the injury," Bill Barnwell wrote. "Samuel had spent the entirety of his career up to that point under Brandon Staley, and it's possible he could look better in a different defense.
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"Samuel has played exclusively in zone-heavy schemes with the Chargers, so I would expect teams that lean toward zone coverages to give him serious consideration. His medicals will play a big role in determining how comfortable organizations are with investing in the former second-round pick, but given his abbreviated 2024 campaign, I would expect him to sign a one-year deal with the hopes of reestablishing his health and cashing in after a complete season next spring."
Samuel has struggled in recent seasons due to inefficiency and injuries over the last few years. He is still a solid starting cornerback, though.
And the Bills need quality starters at each position before they even think about competing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
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This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM.