Samuel won’t be defined by size after catching the Chargers’ eye
He was the eighth cornerback selected in the 2021 draft but the first standing less than 6 foot 1.
Asante Samuel Jr. now plans on raising above all the rest as a rookie with the Chargers.
“A lot of corners got picked before me because of size,” he said Friday. “I feel like I’m going to make them regret that sooner or later.”
The Chargers used a second-round pick — No. 47 overall — to secure the corner now expected to replace veteran Casey Hayward, who was released in March.
Samuel is 5-10, 180 pounds but is known for his playmaking and instincts. He admitted he doesn’t know a lot about the Chargers but does have a ready ally in safety Derwin James, who also played at Florida State.
In the third round Friday, the Chargers took wide receiver Josh Palmer out of Tennessee at No. 77 and tight end Tre’ McKitty out of Georgia at No. 97, trying to further build their offense around quarterback Justin Herbert.
Samuel joins a position group that includes Michael Davis and Chris Harris Jr. and a defense that is in transition under new head coach Brandon Staley.
The 2021 Chargers will employ more varied looks, emphasize the disguising of schemes and play more man-to-man pass coverage than in recent years.
As a freshman and sophomore with the Seminoles, Samuel said he played mostly inside cornerback before moving outside this past season. He’s expected to play outside with the Chargers.
In the first round Thursday, the Chargers drafted Rashawn Slater, a left tackle whose father, Reggie, played eight seasons in the NBA.
Samuel’s dad, Asante Sr., spent 11 years as an NFL cornerback, including an AllPro season with the 2007 New England Patriots. He led the league in interceptions twice and won two Super Bowls.
Asked about going through the draft process with his father, Samuel said, “He just let me do my own thing and told me to stay grounded and stay humble.”
During his career, Asante Sr. was listed at 5-10, 185 pounds.
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco dismissed the notion that Samuel’s size will be an issue. Instead, he praised Samuel’s quickness, durability, explosiveness and ability to diagnose routes.
“He has all those traits and attributes you need to have at that position if you’re going to be a little bit size deficient,” Telesco said. “You’d love ’em all to be 6 foot, 6 foot 1…But he has everything we look for.”
Palmer was born and raised near Toronto but finished his high school career in south Florida at St. Thomas Aquinas, where he and Samuel were teammates.
In fact, Palmer recalled that the first route he ever ran in practice there came against Samuel. Now, the two will be reunited with the Chargers.
Telesco said he likes Palmer’s size — 6-1, 210 pounds — route-running and hands. Palmer attributed his passcatching skills to his strength and a childhood of playing goalkeeper in soccer.
He said he’s eager to join his new teammates and begin learning from veteran receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
“I’m going to be in their back pocket like some spare change,” Palmer said.
“I’m going to try to learn as much as I can while I’m here and while they’re there.”
McKitty, who caught only six passes last year at Georgia, is a Charger today because of his blocking, something that will be particularly emphasized at the tight end position under Staley.
“One of the best things he does is really block at the line of scrimmage,” Telesco said. “He likes to do it and you can tell.”
The Chargers signed veteran tight end Jared Cook in March but have little proven depth at the position.
They also need more blocking, especially in the run game.
“Blocking, I think 80% of it is want-to,” McKitty said. “I think I have that. I have that dawg in me to want to go and put them on their back.”