<p>COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers started day two of the NFL draft by addressing their needs in the secondary, selecting cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. with the 47th overall pick.</p>
<p>Samuel appeared in 32 games with 23 starts for Florida State from 2018-20. He recorded four interceptions, 29 pass breakups and 96 tackles for the Seminoles. His pass breakups led all active Atlantic Coast Conference defensive players. Samuel was a first-team, All-ACC selection last season. He picked off three passes, recovered two fumbles and had 31 tackles.</p>
<p>He is the second Florida State defensive back drafted by the Chargers over the past four drafts. Safety Derwin James was a first-round pick in 2018.</p>
<p>New coach Brandon Staley also coached former FSU standout Jalen Ramsey when Staley was the Rams’ defensive coordinator last season.</p>
<p>Samuel joins a Chargers defensive backfield that is light at cornerback. They re-signed Michael Davis but released Casey Hayward Jr. Davis and Chris Harris Jr. are projected to be the starters.</p>
<p>Samuel’s father, Asante Sr., played 11 seasons in the NFL (2003-13) and won a pair of titles with New England. He also led the league in interceptions in 2006 with the Patriots and ’09 with the Philadelphia Eagles.</p>
<p>The Chargers addressed their needs at offensive tackle in the first round, taking Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater with the 13th overall pick.</p>
<hr />
<p>More AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/NFL">https://apnews.com/NFL</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_NFL">https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
