Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel has been the subject of trade speculation ever since he entered the NFL. This offseason, that hasn’t changed as he’s frequently been brought up as a potential trade target for practically every wide receiver-needy team around the league.
So far, Carolina has not shown any interest in dealing Samuel. The last we heard on this subject was the end of March, when the Athletic reported the team wasn’t looking to trade him.
That won’t stop other teams from trying, though.
According to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, teams have been consistently calling the Panthers about making a deal for Samuel.
The #Panthers have been open to deals this offseason, and here is a name to watch: WR Curtis Samuel. Teams have been consistently calling about the former 2nd round pick, and we’ll see if they get an offer they can’t refuse over the next two days.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2020
It’s not hard to see why teams want Samuel. His numbers may not suggest superstar potential, but his work on the field does. Samuel is one of the game’s most underrated deep threats and route runners. If he ever is able to hook up with a quarterback who has an accurate long ball he could easily post 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns a season.
The Panthers seem to know his value though, which is why they have rebuffed these efforts to date.
If they are going to change their mind and trade Samuel, this seems like an ideal time, though. The 2020 draft class is very deep at the wide receiver position and they could land a playmaker as late as Day 3.
Remember, Samuel is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Keeping him around makes sense but the fact that they gave Christian McCaffrey an extension before Samuel suggests they may not be sold on giving him a long-term deal. If they’re not 100% sold on keeping him, trading Samuel now and getting something is better than losing him in free agency next spring.
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