Making the case for a Curtis Samuel extension

Making the case for the Carolina Panthers to extend wide receiver Curtis Samuel beyond 2021.

The Carolina Panthers have a real predicament on their hands regarding Curtis Samuel. The talented wide receiver was the subject of some intense trade speculation during the NFL Draft. But despite taking plenty of calls, the franchise opted to keep him on the roster.

While this is great news for the Carolina Panthers and their new quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. It does move the situation regarding Samuel’s contract higher up their list of priorities.

The former second-round pick is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and is set to make a $1.22 million base salary in 2020. It appears unlikely the Panthers will be in a position to offer him a long-term deal in the near future given their salary cap constraints. But this is something that is going to look much more promising next spring.

This makes it a pivotal campaign for Samuel. Although he is slotted as the No. 3 receiver behind D.J. Moore and free-agent acquisition Robby Anderson. There is real hope he can build on a promising 2019 that saw him end up with 54 receptions, 627 yards, six touchdowns, and a yards-per-catch average of 11.6.

Although Samuel might not see as many targets as he would like with others around him. There is nothing to suggest he cannot emerge with another breakout-type season in 2020. This would be a huge bargaining tool for the player heading into negotiations with the Panthers or another organization looking to acquire his services.

There is a tremendous amount riding on this season for Samuel and the Panthers. How the player gets on with an improved signal-caller distributing the football will go a long way to determining whether his time with the organization will last past the upcoming campaign.

Why the Carolina Panthers should extend Curtis Samuel

Curtis Samuel is going to be a dream for offensive coordinator Joe Brady to work with during his first year with the Carolina Panthers. He has a diverse range of ways he can help in either running or passing situations. So it would be a huge surprise if the former LSU coach did not make him a big part of his plans.

Spotrac predicts Samuel to command $6.5 million annually on a three-year, $19.63 million deal whenever contract negotiations get underway. This figure could skyrocket if he performs well in 2020. But the Panthers will have the spare funds by then in order to make a deal.

Having a three-strong wide receiver group like Moore, Anderson, and Samuel is going to be exciting to watch next season. While the defense still has plenty of questions to answer. The Panthers’ wideout group has the potential to make big plays and ensure they are in with a fighting chance of staying competitive.

Samuel also saw more looks at running back than any other receiver in the NFL last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Given how productive he was in this particular area of the field. It would be beneficial for Brady to get the ball into the player’s hands as often as possible.

Having so much talent around Samuel in the Panthers’ offense might complicate his ambition for further growth next season. But the sky is the limit if he continues to develop and that is exactly why Carolina’s decision-makers should tie him to a long-term extension at some stage in the coming months.