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When it comes to players who are set to become free agents this offseason, you can create an incredibly long list of guys who we want to sign a deal with Washington and come be a part of the next big run in D.C.
Of course, most of these big-named players, like Allen Robinson, or Kenny Golladay, or Chris Godwin, are unlikely to leave their current home, and if they do, chances are they wouldn’t come to Washington unless there was a contract offer that blew everyone else out of the water. However, there is one player who has ties to both Ron Rivera and Scott Turner, and a new home in Washington might be just what he needs to take the next step in his career.
That player is Carolina Panthers WR Curtis Samuel, who ESPN recently predicted would land with D.C. in free agency.
Samuel has always hinted at value in a jack-of-all-trades role, but he delivered more frequently in that spot for the Panthers this season. With Christian McCaffrey missing most of the year, Samuel posted career highs in volume, finishing the season with 1,051 yards from scrimmage and 49 first downs. He was also better at bringing in the football as a receiver; his catch rate jumped from 51.4% last season to 79.4%, and while some of that was getting higher-percentage passes from Teddy Bridgewater, his completion percentage over expectation went from minus-4.7% in 2019 to plus-6.6%.
There’s a valuable player in here, and the first folks in the NFL to notice that aren’t in Carolina anymore. Coach Ron Rivera and general manager Marty Hurney are in Washington, which doesn’t have much on the depth chart at wide receiver beyond Terry McLaurin and Cam Sims. Antonio Gibson was really mostly a traditional running back in 2020, so Samuel could step in as the second wideout and the guy who creates havoc moving around the formation in the Washington offense alongside J.D. McKissic.
We’ve had our eye on Samuel for a bit now, hoping that he could find a way to reunite with his former coaching staff now in Washington. If they are unable to land one of the top prospects, don’t be surprised to see the former Panther making his way to D.C.
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