The Carolina Panthers should hold on to wide receiver Curtis Samuel as speculation mounts about the player’s future.
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel is the subject of trade speculation after the Carolina Panthers brought in a host of new faces in free agency.
The player a good account of himself in 2019. But with the franchise signing Seth Roberts, Keith Kirkwood, Pharoah Cooper, and Robby Anderson in the past few weeks.
This has left Samuel fighting for a spot in head coach Matt Rhule’s plans despite showing encouraging signs last season. He formed a good relationship with quarterback Kyle Allen and came up with some important catches.
Rhule is expected to transform the offense and has brought in players he thinks will be capable of working within his system. With Teddy Bridgewater now under center, there could be a very different look to the Panthers as they look to remain competitive in a formidable-looking NFC South.
That might leave Samuel on the fringes if he does not prove his worth to the new regime before competitive action gets underway. He would command high interest on the trade market if the Panthers consider going in this direction.
This is something they may want to think twice about given his level of production. But with a new head coach comes fresh ideas and things appear bleak for the player if their recent free-agent activity is any indication.
Curtis Samuel’s production
Curtis Samuel was taken in the second round by the Carolina Panthers in 2017. The former Ohio State standout has gradually progressed in his three seasons as a pro and the player’s ceiling remains high.
The 23-year-old played in nine games during his rookie season and was on the field for almost 30 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Samuel showed glimpses of what he was capable of to record 15 catches from 26 targets on his way to 115 receiving yards before ending the campaign on injured reserve.
His first year in the league saw Samuel drop four passes, which was a concern. Thankfully he rectified this in his sophomore campaign, reducing it to just three with substantially more game time.
Samuel featured in half the team’s snaps in 2018. He caught 39 of 65 passes thrown his way to achieve 494 yards and five touchdowns.
This encouraging increase in production saw Samuel take another step forward last season. He became one of the Panthers’ primary targets and made the most of his career-high 15 starts.
Although he had seven drops to his name, Samuel still managed to produce 54 receptions, 627 yards, and six touchdowns. He was also a useful asset to have in the running game, with a series of elaborate plays resulting in the player carrying the ball 19 times for 130, one touchdown and a lofty yards per catch average of 6.8.
Curtis Samuel’s contract situation
Curtis Samuel is heading into the final year of his rookie deal with the Carolina Panthers. The wide receiver penned a four-year, $6.45 million contract with the franchise that included a $2.83 million signing bonus and a little over $4 million guaranteed.
He is set to make $1.22 million in base salary in 2020 and count just over $2 million against the Panthers’ salary cap. Given the way Samuel has played over the last two seasons, it is cleatrthat he has outplayed this pay grade.
With money tight in Carolina thanks in no small part to their incredible $48.1 million in dead cap money, a new contract might not be on the immediate horizon. The organization has more pressing needs regarding extensions, which begin with their All-Pro Christian McCaffrey.
The running back is also on the final year of his deal and is looking for top dollar. Few people would argue McCaffrey is worth the investment and it might leave Samuel’s chances of signing a longer-term commitment from the team in doubt.
That’s not to say Samuel will not get an extension. The Panthers got a lot out of the player in 2019 and another elevation in his production would leave them with little option other than to give the player some more financial security or place him under the transition or franchise tag in 2021.
If Samuel does end up testing the market next spring, the demand for the wide receiver is going to be high. But the Panthers will not want to lose him for nothing and trading the player seems like a real possibility.
Curtis Samuel’s trade value
There are always NFL teams that are crying out for wide receiver help. If Curtis Samuel is made available for trade, he could have some interest.
One problem the Carolina Panthers might have if they are intent on moving the player is the NFL Draft. The class of 2020 is the deepest group of wide receivers in recent memory and if a franchise is looking for a cheaper option then this is the direction they will go.
Samuel is still young in NFL terms and he is only going to get better. The ceiling of the player is still high and the Panthers will undoubtedly want to recoup the second-round pick they took the receiver with back in 2017.
That price might be a bit steep for Samuel, especially in a contract year and with the college recruits entering the NFL later this month. All this points to the Panthers not having much leverage in trade talks and might be forced to settle for a third or fourth-round pick for the player.
They currently have eight selections heading into the draft. With the defensive side of the ball needing significant reinforcements, it might be prudent for the franchise to make some moves over the next fortnight to accumulate more picks.
When you look at the Panthers’ roster for possible tradable players, Samuel does stand out thanks to his level of play and the depth at wide receiver. But Carolina’s decision-makers will want to get a good price for the player if he eventually moves on.
Should the Panthers trade Samuel?
While there is plenty of temptation for the Carolina Panthers to field calls about Curtis Samuel, they should resist trading the player.
He became an important part of the offense in 2019 and is still on an upward curve. Samuel’s influence has grown with every passing year and another step forward could see him get closer to the 1,000 receiving yards milestone next term.
One thing that might be concerning is the fact four new wide receivers have been signed this offseason. Samuel will have to fight his way into head coach Matt Rhule’s plans and his role as a starter has been put in significant doubt by the high-profile arrival of Robby Anderson.
He is expected to line up opposite D.J. Moore, with Samuel potentially working the slot. This is something he is more than capable of. But whether he is happy with this role is another matter entirely.
Losing Samuel would be a blow for an offense that showed promise last season despite the uncertainty at quarterback. He does seem like the odd one out at the moment and trading him away would be another strange decision from an organization that has come in for its fair share of heat in the last few weeks.
This is a season of transition for a franchise that has a new head coach, a new signal-caller and a host of arrivals who all need to blend in. Continuity is normally key for any organization looking to secure a postseason berth and this is why Samuel needs to stick around.