Could Urban Meyer try and lure Curtis Samuel from the Panthers?
By Dean Jones
How can the Carolina Panthers keep Samuel?
It is going to be tough.
Very tough.
Curtis Samuel’s asking price regarding a new deal has risen a considerable amount this season, one in which he went over 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the first time. According to Spotrac, he is expected to command an annual salary of $11.9 million on a four-year, $47.9 million deal, which the Carolina Panthers probably couldn’t afford given their current financial restrictions and the need to strengthen other areas of the field.
Some significant sacrifices would need to be made should the Panthers make keeping Samuel a priority. Teams always tend to overpay for players on the free-agent market to get them and this is something the Jaguars could offer if Urban Meyer decides to go in this particular direction.
Losing Samuel would be a big blow. His influence has steadily increased throughout the campaign and he became a trusted target of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in third-down situations.
With Brandon Zylstra and Pharoh Cooper also out of contract, it could potentially leave the Panthers with D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Omar Bayless as their most viable options in the passing game.
Both Moore and Anderson are looking for extensions of their own in 2022 or sooner given their outstanding production. So this is a precarious situation that isn’t exactly helped without the presence of a reliable tight end who can assist over the middle.
General manager Scott Fitterer has got a big job on his hands and the presence of Meyer in Jacksonville might make things more difficult to keep Samuel on the roster.