Could the Panthers tag-and-trade Curtis Samuel this offseason?

Curtis Samuel’s future in 2021

There doesn’t appear any doubt that Curtis Samuel earned himself some serious money this season. The do-it-all offensive weapons went over 1,000 all-purpose yards for the first time in his career and became quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s most dependable third-down target to further enhance his overall influence.

This was a huge step in the right direction for Samuel, who came into the NFL with an exceptional skill set. But a couple of injury-plagued seasons from 2017-18 hampered his ability to make an instant impression.

That’s all changed over the last two years, which has seen Samuel’s influence grow considerably. He’s still the No. 4 option behind D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Christian McCaffrey in the passing game. But the former second-round pick makes the most out of whatever chances come his way.

And therein lies the problem.

If Samuel decides that he’d be better off with another team that promises him a more prominent role, then it won’t matter how much money the Carolina Panthers throw at the wideout.

That’s why a tag-and-trade situation works for both parties.

It would allow Samuel the opportunity to negotiate a new deal with a team that stumps up some draft capital or a talented player in return, which gives the Panthers another asset that they can utilize moving forward.

In an ideal world, Samuel signs a new deal and becomes a more integral part of the Panthers’ scheme in 2021 and beyond.

But things don’t always work like that in the NFL.