Curtis Samuel’s influence on the Panthers cannot be understated
By Tyler Ball
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel is set to become a free agent this spring, but the player proved his importance to the Carolina Panthers in no uncertain terms during the 2020 campaign.
It’s no surprise that the Carolina Panthers experienced some growing pains after the 2020 rebuilding offseason which left the roster unrecognizable. However, even after finishing the campaign with a 5-11 record and third position in the NFC South, the organization showed some promise for the future years in the first year of Matt Rhule’s tenure as head coach.
One player in particular was a key component in this after going somewhat under-the-radar throughout his career.
That is Curtis Samuel.
The wide receiver made some great strides during the 2020 season. He was a prominent pass-catching presence all over the field, assisted in the running game, and even provided quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with a reliable third-down target on multiple occasions.
According to ESPN.com, Samuel finished his third season with the Panthers with some lofty stats that will no doubt see him command a significant amount of interest if he hits the free-agent market.
- 851 receiving yards (33rd in the league)
- 77 receptions (25th)
- 3 touchdowns (Tied for 82nd)
- 11.1 yards-per-reception (86th)
While these stats aren’t mind-blowing or record-breaking, they provide some good insight into why Samuel is so valuable to the Panthers.
How Curtis Samuel impacts the Carolina Panthers.
His main threat is his speed and route running. Samuel can make some serious cuts leaving defenders in his wake and the former Ohio State star is incredibly elusive in tight windows or open space.
One area of Samuel’s game that often gets overlooked in his ability to take the focus from other playmakers, which paid off for the Panthers if D.J Moore and Robby Anderson‘s impressive numbers from the 2020 campaign were any indication.
Here’s the breakdown:
D.J Moore
- 1,193 receiving ards (11th in the league)
- 66 receptions (T-36th)
- 4 touchdowns (63rd)
- 18.1 yards-per-reception (3rd)
Robby Anderson
- 1,096 receiving yards (15th in the league)
- 95 receptions (10th)
- 3 touchdowns (tied 82nd)
- 11.5 yards-per-reception (3rd)
Rumors swarmed the Carolinas about the Panthers trading Samuel before the 2020 NFL Draft. But despite taking some calls for the player, the decision-makers held firm and let him play out the final year of his deal.
While he doesn’t have the stats of a top-tier wide receiver, Samuel is a solid decoy with his speed and athleticism. This is something the Panthers could use to their advantage in the future and they must make a strong bid to keep the wideout around when both parties head to the bargaining table later this spring.
Of course, Samuel might not want to be a No. 3 option for much longer.
He has a couple of solid years of production under his belt. So the former second-round pick might feel the time is right to take his chances elsewhere for big-money and the promise of a more important role.
That’s not to say Samuel departing Carolina is already a done deal. But it’s hard to look at his current situation and not think he’ll depart for pastures new.
This would be a major blow to the Panthers and yet another talented player who left the organization with so much to offer.