Carolina Panthers: 3 role players that will thrive in Joe Brady’s offense

Carolina Panthers Player No. 3: Curtis Samuel (WR)

Versatile wide receiver Curtis Samuel is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. The three-year pro has improved every season he has been with the Carolina Panthers. And year four should be no different.

Last season Samuel was able to bring some stability to the Panthers’ No. 2 receiver spot. This is something they haven’t had since Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad were catching passes on the field together.

Samuel is a big play waiting to happen with the ball in his hands. The former Ohio State Buckeye clocked a 4.31-second 40-yard dash time which ranks in the 100th percentile for NFL wideouts. He has the pace to burn and is surely going to thrive in Carolina’s new-look offense.

Samuel has yet to be heavily targeted in the NFL. But that should change with Joe Brady calling the plays this season. Former Carolina offensive coordinator Norv Turner focused on utilizing his running backs and tight ends to move the ball. However, the new arrival has proven that he can create big-play opportunities for his receivers.

With most of the focus on No. 1 wideout D.J. Moore commanding the attention of the opposition’s No. 1 cornerback. Samuel should be a matchup nightmare and this could be just what the player needs to get a big-money commitment going into the final year of his rookie deal.

Samuel put up a respectable 627 receiving yards for six touchdowns on 54 catches last season. He is a sneaky candidate to eclipse the illustrious 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2020 if he lives up to his billing working in unison with Brady.