Report: Broncos had interest in Asante

As we inch closer to the draft, the Asante Samuel trade rumors continue to swirl.

The latest one is out of Denver, where two NFL sources tell The Denver Post's Mike Klis that the Broncos have expressed interest in the veteran cornerback. But, according to the report, they no longer believe they can pull a deal off with the Eagles.

What were the Broncos offering in return? Klis says they presented two options. One involved an unknown player. And the other was for a fifth- or sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft.

Samuel's contract and age are both factors, but the report indicates the Eagles feel they can do better in terms of compensation. And they probably can. But as always, it depends on the market. The good news is that Klis reports "several other teams" have been in talks with the Eagles about Samuel in recent days.

Meanwhiile, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reports that the Titans are not in the mix for Samuel. He too indicates that they are not willing to match the Eagles' asking price.

The guess here is that the Eagles will continue conversations and pull the trigger on a deal right before the draft, even if that means settling. I have a difficult time seeing Samuel returning and having Juan Castillo try to figure out roles for him, Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, when none of them have shown the ability to play inside.

Samuel showed up at the Novacare Complex for workouts this week and told the team's Web site he wants to stay in Philly.

Update: Per Klis, the issue isn't trade compensation, but Samuel's willingness to take a pay cut. He's due a reported $9.5M in 2012.

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