4 Panthers players who could be traded before the 2020 deadline
By Dean Jones
Curtis Samuel – Carolina Panthers WR
The situation evolving between Curtis Samuel and the Carolina Panthers is getting more concerning with each passing week. The wide receiver is clearly the team’s No. 3 option behind D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson, so it appears unlikely he will want to stick around in this lesser role when his contract expires next spring.
Samuel has shown signs of life over the last two weeks after starting the campaign poorly. But the Panthers are running a real risk of losing the former second-round pick for nothing when free agency rolls around.
They resisted the temptation to trade Samuel despite fielding some calls regarding his availability during the 2020 NFL Draft. But this is something Carolina’s decision-makers might consider at the deadline providing another team comes in with an acceptable offer.
This might end up being a necessary evil for the Panthers in the grand scheme of things. They do have the likes of Seth Roberts, Pharoh Cooper, and Brandon Zylstra to fill-in should they make such a move. And there is also the possibility of utilizing Christian McCaffrey more in the slot thanks to the outstanding production they’ve received from Mike Davis in his absence.
There is no denying the exceptional skills that Samuel brings to the table. But the likelihood of turning down a fresh start in a more increased role during the free-agent period appears slim at this juncture.