Asante Samuel Trade Speculation: Which NFC East Team Should Trade for CB?

The Philadelphia Inquirer has reported that the Eagles are willing to trade cornerback Asante Samuel. Despite his age and projected contract, Samuel can still be an asset for a lot of teams, but what is his trade value in the NFC East?

Here is a look at which NFC East team could benefit the most from a trade for the nine-year veteran:

New York Giants

One of the reasons the Inquirer gives for the Eagles seeking to trade Samuel is that his presence could be holding back younger players like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. For a similar reason, the Giants would have little need for Samuel.

Big Blue have veteran Corey Webster to lead the secondary and will be hoping for a strong recovery from injury for recently re-signed Terrell Thomas.

The Giants will also be anxious to develop 2011's top draft choice, Prince Amukamara, whose rookie campaign was derailed by a broken foot. Adding Samuel to the mix would interfere with this process.

Washington Redskins

As a defense, the Redskins managed only 13 interceptions all season. That ranked 22nd in the league and was the lowest mark in the NFC East.

That makes Samuel and his 45 career picks naturally appealing. However, the Redskins only have a limited number of draft choices left.

They gave away a second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams in the deal for the No. 2 overall selection. Two fourth-round picks gives them some ammunition for a trade, but too much goes against Samuel to make him an ideal choice for a Redskins trade, despite his playmaking skills.

At 31, Samuel is a little older than the players the Redskins' front office has targeted in the last two offseasons. His $9.5 million contract also makes D.C. an unlikely destination.

The Redskins were hit hard by the league with a $36 million salary cap penalty. With whatever remaining room they have left, cornerback won't rank too high on their list of priorities before the draft.

Dallas Cowboys

If Samuel were to remain in the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys would be the best fit. The Cowboys need help in the secondary, and a ballhawk like Samuel would work well in Rob Ryan's blitzing schemes.

Samuel has made a career out of anticipating and stealing wayward passes. With the pressure the likes of DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff and Sean Lee can generate, Samuel would have plenty more chances to get his hands on the football.

The Cowboys added Brandon Carr and Brodney Poole in free agency, but is that enough to strengthen a weak defensive backfield?

Ryan needs smart cover corners to protect the secondary while his hybrid looks and multiple pressure packages create havoc up front.

Samuel's off-coverage expertise could even encourage Ryan to play more zone behind his blitzes and take less risks with press man coverage.

The Cowboys also received sanction from the league, but only incurred a $10 million penalty. With some restructuring, they might be able to accommodate Samuel's contract value.

Conclusion

That prohibitive contract probably rules out Samuel being traded in the division, despite the Eagles demonstrating with Donovan McNabb that they are not afraid to deal with a rival.

However, if one NFC East team were to make the move, it should be the Cowboys. Samuel has the skills to really benefit their defense and allow the Cowboys to feel very confident about their secondary in 2012.