5 possible replacements if the Panthers let Curtis Samuel walk in 2021
By Dean Jones
Dazz Newsome – North Carolina
This would be an immensely popular decision by the Carolina Panthers if Curtis Samuel stays or not. Dazz Newsome is a much-loved figure in the region after starring for North Carolina in recent years and he has all the skills needed to forge a successful career in the NFL.
Newsome does his best work from the slot, which is where Samuel also excels. He has improved his route-running enough to get open more efficiently this time around after a 2019 campaign that came with 1,018 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns from 73 receptions. And even though his numbers haven’t hit the same heights this season, his play overall is a lot more ready for the rigors of the next level.
Providing that Newsome continues to make strides once he gets to the pros, then it could be a shrewd move by the Panthers to bring him in. While the prospect doesn’t have Samuel’s elite speed, he is agile enough to make an impression in Carolina or elsewhere almost immediately after hearing his name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Somebody like Samuel is going to take some replacing. He is a do-it-all offensive weapon who can make things happen all over the field but in Newsome, the Panthers could identify someone with plenty of promise that can contribute – albeit primarily from the slot.