4 Panthers who may not be with the team next season
By Dean Jones
Curtis Samuel
The future of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel has been a hot topic throughout the offseason. The organization eventually resisted any trade offers for the player in and around the NFL Draft, which leaves the franchise in a good position in terms of their wide receivers heading into 2020.
Samuel is coming off the best season of his career. But he is another that is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and will need to make further strides in order to secure an extension.
The wideout has the potential to cause some real damage in the slot next season with the presence of D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson on the outside. He will also have the benefit of a more consistent quarterback distributing the football in the form of free-agent acquisition of Teddy Bridgewater from the New Orleans Saints.
All this points to a possible breakout year for Samuel, providing he can stay healthy. This will put the Panthers in a real predicament regarding the player as there has been plenty of interest already shown in acquiring his services.
This is going to extend further if a team does not have to give up a draft pick for Samuel. So the Panthers have backed themselves into a corner by not shipping him out this offseason and now face a possible fight to hang on to a talented player with the ball in his hands.