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The NFC North is entering an arms race as the dust has settled on the NFL trade deadline and every team appears to be in contention for the division title. The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers may have sat pat at the deadline, but both teams are moving in on a top free-agent cornerback. Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is scheduled to visit with the Vikings, Packers and Panthers this week after he was cleared to return to football activities following a spinal operation. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Packers and Vikings are scheduled to visit with former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who is visiting the Carolina Panthers first on Wednesday. Sources: The #Packers and #Vikings are also scheduled to have visits with CB Asante Samuel Jr.But #Panthers are first today, I'm told. 👇 https://t.co/WwREq9Zw0R pic.twitter.com/4mjEriHj83— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 5, 2025 The son of Asante Samuel Sr., who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and earned four Pro Bowl honors in his 10-year career, Samuel Jr. was selected in the second round of the 2021 draft. He was an immediate starter for the Chargers, starting 47 games in his first four seasons with the team and tallying 176 tackles, six interceptions and 37 passes defensed before his 2024 season came to an abrupt end due to injury. Read more: Vikings’ JJ McCarthy Trolls Lions, Dan Campbell After Win Samuel Jr. underwent a spinal fusion surgery in April and was cleared for football activities this week, according to ESPN. He was ESPN’s No. 14 overall free agent during the offseason, but injury concerns kept teams from signing him until now. Read more: Concerns Grow After Justin Jefferson’s Behavior on Vikings Sideline The Vikings and Packers both have pressing needs at cornerback. Green Bay has not fared well since shipping off Jaire Alexander. Meanwhile, the Vikings’ bet on former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah has not panned out. Samuel’s decision between the three teams he is scheduled to see will be intriguing, considering the Panthers just beat the Packers and the Vikings bounced back with the return of J.J. McCarthy. For more on the Vikings, Packers and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
