One of the biggest complaints about the Chicago Bears at the trade deadline is that they did not go after a cornerback, as they currently have three who are on IR, including two starters in Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon.
This has resulted in the team signing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to fill in as the new slot cornerback, and actually playing well in the Week 9 thriller against the Cincinnati Bengals. As for the outside cornerbacks, Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright got exposed, with each allowing over 100 yards, as Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco finished with 470 yards.
Chicago's response to all of this is bringing in free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. in for a workout, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Samuel is visiting six teams in the next week, including division rivals the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings.
Could Samuel be the solution the Bears need to finally replace Jaylon Johnson?
Samuel has been cleared to play again after having spinal fusion surgery, after only playing four games last year for the Los Angeles Chargers and dealing with shoulder and spine issues. The Chargers selected Samuel in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, as he has racked up 176 tackles, 37 pass deflections, six interceptions, three tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery in 50 games.
Chicago would not be getting a ball hawk in Samuel, but he is an elite shutdown corner and one of the best in the NFL. If it hadn't been for his injury last year, he would have gotten a massive payday in the offseason, but teams were not willing to risk signing him if they didn't know when he would be back.
Stevenson has been inconsistent, but good enough to be a CB2 for the Bears. Wright has held up his own, but again, consistency is a problem that Chicago needs from their cornerbacks.
Samuel would be able to fill in as the lockdown number one cornerback with Stevenson on the other side. Adding Gardner-Johnson in the slot with Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker at safety, the Bears' secondary would be in a much different shape in the second half of the year.
Read more: Bears' first Week 10 injury report features long list, but good Cole Kmet news
If Bears general manager Ryan Poles wants to right the wrong of the trade deadline, he needs to find a way to win the bidding war for Samuel's services.