4 Panthers players who could leave in 2021 at midseason point

Curtis Samuel – Carolina Panthers WR

Curtis Samuel might have started off the 2020 season slowly, but his exceptional athletic traits are now a crucial part of the offensive gameplan. This has become more evident in recent weeks, which has boosted the player’s chances of earning a big-money deal next spring.

Whether that is with the Carolina Panthers or not is up for debate.

There is no denying the skills that Samuel brings to the table. He is a dual-threat weapon whose elusiveness has been an eye-catching feature of his overall contribution and the former Ohio State star’s chemistry with Teddy Bridgewater has seen the player emerge as the quarterback’s favorite target on third down.

One cause for concern is Samuel’s place on the depth chart. He is clearly the No. 3 option behind D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson, so whether the 2017 second-round pick decides to take his chances elsewhere for a lucrative contract and the promise of becoming a team’s top option might be too tempting to resist.

This would spell bad news for Carolina, who resisted the temptation to trade Samuel during the 2020 NFL Draft. There is a chance they place the franchise tag on him. However, paying a third option wideout this sort of money just doesn’t seem feasible in the current climate.