Report: Denver Broncos Have Tried to Trade for Asante Samuel

In an effort to shore up what was a spotty secondary in 2011, the Denver Broncos have made multiple offers to the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Asante Samuel, according to a report from Mike Klis of the Denver Post. 

Samuel, 31, has been on the trading block for much of this offseason as he enters the final two years of a six-year contract he signed in 2008 with Philadelphia that is scheduled to pay him roughly $21 million total in 2012 and 2013. None of that money is guaranteed, opening up the likelihood that Samuel will restructure his contract in order to facilitate a deal.

The Broncos reportedly made a pair of offers to Philadelphia, one involving a late-round pick in next week's draft (either a fifth- or a sixth-rounder), and one which included an unknown player.   

Denver has shuffled its cornerback position this offseason, recently cutting veteran Andre Goodman (who was due to make nearly $4.5 million in base salary) after signing free agent Tracy Porter.  

While Porter and the ageless Champ Bailey are currently penciled in as starters, the addition of Samuel would have provided Denver with three playmakers from the cornerback position in a league that is further skewing towards the passing game by the season.

Although a deal between Denver and Philadelphia no longer appears viable, Samuel is still a name to keep an eye leading up to and during the draft. Several teams have been linked to him as potential trade partners, and should he be willing to restructure his contract, he is more than worth a mid-to late-round pick in exchange for his services.