Could the Panthers tag-and-trade Curtis Samuel this offseason?
By Dean Jones
How can the Carolina Panthers tag-and-trade Samuel?
This will be entirely dependent on whether the Carolina Panthers can agree to terms on a long-term extension with Taylor Moton. The exceptional right tackle has earned every cent coming his way this offseason after emerging as a model of consistency protecting the edge. But if they come across a stumbling block or two at the bargaining table, then the decision-makers won’t hesitate to franchise tag him.
Curtis Samuel’s future is tied into Moton in this regard. But if the Panthers do reach a multi-year agreement with the former Western Michigan player, then they can perhaps pursue the tag-and-trade avenue.
Tagging Samuel could cost the Panthers $16.43 million, per Over the Cap. Whether this would put some interested parties off remains to be seen, but if the player is willing to join whatever team meets the necessary asking price, then a longer commitment wouldn’t be too far behind.
It’s a precarious situation.
But one Carolina brought on itself.
They could have offered Samuel a contract last year, although money was incredibly tight due to an extortionate level of dead-cap the Panthers shelled out on failed contracts and established veterans who were moved on by the new regime.
The writing is on the wall regarding Samuel’s future in Carolina. A contingency plan has probably been put in place in the event he walks, but the tag-and-trade option needs discussing if Moton gets a bumper new contract in the coming weeks.