Tag: Curtis Samuel

Bills add two draft selection in latest compensatory 2025 NFL draft pick projection

Bills add two draft selection in latest compensatory 2025 NFL draft pick projection

Over the Cap projects the Buffalo Bills will gain two draft compensatory selections in April’s draft.

The Bills will receive these picks in response to the losses of Gabriel Davis and Leonard Floyd last offseason. Davis signed a three-year, $39 million contract with Jacksonville, while Floyd penned a two-year, $20 million contract with San Francisco.

Teams earn compensatory picks when they have a net loss of qualified free agents over an offseason. The formula also considers the player’s average salary per year, snap counts, and awards.

Buffalo also lost key players Dane Jackson and Tyrel Dodson during the 2024 free-agency period.

Buffalo added Curtis Samuel and Austin Johnson.

With the contracts for Floyd and Davis far exceeding the deals for Samuel and Johnson, it appears the Bills are in line for compensatory picks. In the formula, the signings of Samuel and Johnson will most likely balance out with the Jackson and Dodson contracts.

Currently, Buffalo holds eight draft picks:

  • Round 1
  • Round 2
  • Round 2: from Houston in Stefon Diggs trade
  • Round 4
  • Round 4: from Chicago
  • Round 6
  • Round 6: from Cleveland in Amari Cooper trade
  • Round 6: from New York Giants

The NFL will officially award teams their compensatory picks in March. However, projecting these picks can help teams plan for the upcoming NFL Draft.

When they last met: Commanders and Lions

A look back at the last time the Lions and Commanders faced off.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Detroit 36, Washington 27 – Week 2, September 18, 2022

Detroit pounced on Washington early and often, racing to a 22-point halftime lead and then coasting to a 36-27 win on Ford Field.

Jared Goff passed for four touchdown passes, including two to Amon-Ra St Brown of 13 and 11 yards. Josh Reynolds caught one from three yards and D’Andre Swift as well from 22 yards.

The Lions were quicker and more aggressive, looking like they came ready to play, whereas Washington was a step slow, getting manhandled up front, and even giving up safety when Carson Wentz was sacked in the end zone by Charles Harris.

NFL Playoff picks: Unlock exclusive data-driven predictions

After the Lions led 22-0 at the half, they appeared to lose intensity, allowing Washington to at least make the score respectable at 22-15 and then 36-27 in the final.

Carson Wentz completed touchdown passes in the third quarter to Curtis Samuel of 15 yards and Logan Thomas of 20 yards, and then late in the fourth quarter to Jahan Dotson from 1 yard.

Goff passed for 256 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions, resulting in a 121.7 passer rating, while Wentz had 337 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception and was sacked five times for a 99.6 rating.

The win was the first for the 2022 Lions, evening their record at 1-1. Washington had defeated the Jaguars in the opener and thus fell to 1-1.

 

Buffalo Bills approaching multiple records going into Week 18

#Bills approaching multiple records going into Week 18

The Buffalo Bills far exceeded expectations in 2024 as they head into the season’s final week with a record of 13-3 and the AFC’s two seed locked up.

Despite already having their sights set on the postseason, they have a few records they could set in Week 18 against the New England Patriots.

With the team’s success, specifically on offense led by quarterback Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Joe Brady, they are now in a position to make more history:

Most players with a receiving TD in a season

Oct 20, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) runs after making a catch with wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) running alongside in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

With Tyrell Shavers’ long catch and run for a touchdown in Week 17, the Bills tied the NFL record for most players with a receiving touchdown in a season.

The following players caught a touchdown in 2024: Khalil Shakir; Amari Cooper; Keon Coleman; Mack Hollins; Curtis Samuel; Tyrell Shavers; James Cook; Ty Johnson; Ray Davis; Dalton Kincaid; Dawson Knox; Quintin Morris; Josh Allen.

With the Bills slated to play their backups for much of the Week 18 game, they have a good chance of breaking this record. Some players who haven’t had much of an opportunity this year will have the chance to be an NFL record-breaker.

Some potential practice squad guys who could find the endzone in Week 18 are TE Zach Davidson, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR KJ Hamler, and WR Jalen Virgil. If FB Reggie Gilliam scores his first TD of the year that would break the record as well. And, there’s always the chance an offensive linemen could catch one. Josh Allen caught a touchdown this year so nothing can be ruled out.

First team to pass and rush for 30 TDs in a season

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On the season, the Bills have compiled 33 rushing touchdowns and 29 passing touchdowns. No team in NFL history has had 30 of each in a season. The Bills can be the first to do so by throwing one more touchdown pass, and it could set this record as well as break the record above in one play.

Mack Hollins leads the team with five receiving touchdowns while James Cook leads the team with 15 rushing touchdowns.

Most wins in a regular season in franchise history

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The Bills have never had 14 wins in a regular season in team history. A win over the Patriots in Week 18 would cement this squad in its team history.

The Bills have now had five years in team history with 13 regular season wins: 1990; 1991; 2020; 2022; 2024.

Backups will likely see the majority of snaps in the game, but they could still etch their spot in team and NFL history with a strong performance.

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How to target Buffalo Bills WRs in fantasy drafts

Breaking down the unheralded cast of wideouts in Western New York.

Over the last four seasons, the Buffalo Bills have featured one of the NFL’s most prolific passing attacks, primarily on the strength of quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs. That era came to an end this offseason when the Bills traded Diggs to the Houston Texans. In addition to parting ways with Diggs, their No. 1 receiver, they also lost WR Gabe Davis, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after finishing second on the team in receiving in both 2022 and 2023.

With the Bills possessing limited cap space, the retooling of the receiver room took the form of value free-agent signings like Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, along with the selection of WR Keon Coleman in the second round of this year’s draft. Internally, they’ll be looking at Khalil Shakir and hoping he can take another step in his development.

One thing that can’t be overlooked when talking about Buffalo’s receivers is the presence of Allen, who has the disposition and talent to shepherd these fresh faces through the inevitable bumps in the road. With that in mind, let’s look at who can contribute in 2024.

Bills teammates impressed with Josh Allen in overdrive at practice

Allen threw all the passes:

Josh Allen put it into overdrive at practice on Monday in Orchard Park.

Fresh off a 33-6 loss to the Chicago Bears in his team’s preseason opener, Allen threw every pass at Buffalo’s next practice. However, that has nothing to do with the result.

Due to an injury to Shane Buechele and Mitchell Trubisky having an excused absence, Allen was the only available QB for the team.

That doesn’t happen very often. It’s also hard to imagine some other franchise quarterbacks in the NFL picking up the slack for his team like that. But this is Josh… and his teammates were not at all surprised by him stepping up in that way.

“That’s a tough guy,” receiver Curtis Samuel said.

“Josh is a dog,” wideout Khalil Shakir added.

For more reaction to Allen from teammates, see the attached WKBW-TV clip below:

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Bills’ Dalton Kincaid looks to take on larger role in 2024

#Bills’ Dalton Kincaid looks to take on larger role in 2024:

Second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid will undoubtedly be a focal point for the Buffalo Bills offense this season.

The 2023 first-round pick had a stellar rookie season, setting a single-season franchise record for tight ends with 73 receptions. His 673 receiving yards was the second-best single-season total in Bills history for the position.

Now, Kincaid hopes to put together an encore that exceeds his first year in Buffalo. He shared how he can meet the increased expectations set upon him.

“You know, knowing where I need to be and knowing the playbook a lot more. I can look at the defense and see what they’re doing and understand their leverage,” Kincaid said via video conference.

Kincaid also embraces his role as a leader on the offense.

“I’m trying to be more of a leader going into the second year because we’ve got a lot of new guys on the team. I think it’s translated well — we did a lot together during OTAs and we just got a really good group of guys,” he added.

While Kincaid has the inside track at being quarterback Josh Allen’s No. 1 target this fall, he isn’t taking on any sort of selfish mentality concerning targets. The tight end is excited for the new group of weapons that the Bills have on offense.

“I’m just out there to do my job and catch the ball when it’s thrown my way. You know our saying is ‘Everybody Eats’ on this offense, and everybody is going to eat so if it’s a game I catch 10 passes — awesome. If it’s a game I catch zero passes, it’s awesome as long as we’re winning,” Kincaid said.

Kincaid will welcome new wide outs Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel to Buffalo’s receiving corps. Slot receiver Khalil Shakir begin the season as a full-time starter for the first time in his career.

With the lack of a true No.1 receiver, it’s expected that Allen will spread the ball out to all options. In the end, it could mean even greater production for Kincaid.

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Curtis Samuel makes finger-tip grab at Bills training camp (video)

Curtis Samuel makes finger-tip grab at #Bills training camp (video):

Curtis Samuel is feeling right at home at Buffalo Bills training camp.

During the fifth day of workouts at St. John Fisher University, the new wideout addition and quarterback Josh Allen connected on a heck of a play… mostly because of Samuel’s doing.

On a pass down the sideline with cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram in coverage, Samuel got just enough of his fingertips on the ball to haul it in for a touchdown. The crowd and onlookers were wow’d by the play.

Check out the highlight in the clip below:

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Bills’ Curtis Samuel listed as player who could shape 2024 NFL season

#Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel was listed as one under-the-radar player who could shape the 2024 NFL season.

The Buffalo Bills are trying to revamp their roster after the departures of some of their most prominent players in recent memory this offseason. The team sought to get younger and cheaper.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs is one of the players that Buffalo is trying to make up for the loss for and one of their free-agent acquisitions could be the answer.

In a recent article by CBS Sports, wide receiver Curtis Samuel was listed was one of 50 under-the-radar players who could make an huge impact over the course of the 2024 season. Samuel signed with Buffalo this offseason on a three-year, $24 million ($15 million guaranteed) deal in March that could be worth up to $30 million.

Samuel, 27, is part of a retooled receiving corps that is going from relying on Diggs and Gabe Davis to a committee with Samuel, Khalil Shakir, and second-round rookie Keon Coleman along with tight end Dalton Kincaid. Star quarterback Josh Allen will have to figure out how to play with this new pass-catching group sooner than later if the Bills are going to go deep into the playoffs.

Samuel is coming off a 2023 season with the Washington Commanders in which he caught 62 passes (91 targets) for 613 yards and four touchdowns. Samuel could be a dangerous player for the Bills as he can line up anywhere within offensive formations and can also line up in the backfield.

Here’s what CBS Sports had to say about including Samuel on this list:

“After losing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason, the Bills’ passing game will likely be more by-committee this season, and Samuel could lead that committee. He reunites with Joe Brady , his former offensive coordinator in Carolina in 2020, when Samuel had career highs in yards receiving (851) and rushing (200). Samuel can play in the slot, out wide and, occasionally, in the backfield.”

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PFF: Bills’ Curtis Samuel a potential ‘fantasy football league-winner’

PFF: #Bills’ Curtis Samuel a potential ‘fantasy football league-winner’

Things are picking up on the field with the Buffalo Bills with the kickoff of training camp a week away. Off the field, fantasy football fans are beginning their preparations for upcoming drafts.

Several fantasy experts are ramping up their research, analysis, and predictions for this upcoming season.

Buffalo Bills free agent acquisition Curtis Samuel is one name that is garnering some buzz for fantasy owners.

Pro Football Focus sees Samuel as a player with “league-winning” potential for fantasy owners. PFF highlights how Samuel should play a large role in Buffalo’s offense:

Curtis Samuel is more than a slot receiver: Samuel should have an expanded role with the Buffalo Bills, compared to recent seasons, along with the best quarterback play of his career.

Samuel doesn’t have the massive stats of the top receivers who will be picked at the start of many fantasy drafts. However, many league winners find value in later rounds to help supplement their roster.

Buffalo’s wide receiver corps has undergone quite a change this offseason. Out are Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis, leaving 241 targets from the 2023 season up for grabs. Samuel, along with Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, will be the recipients of those redistributed passes.

Samuel’s versatility makes him the most intriguing of the trio. His best season statistically was in 2020, when he caught 77 passes for 851 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions for the Carolina Panthers.

Samuel was a part of the Panthers ground game during that season as well, rushing 41 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Currently, Samuel’s ADP is 139 on CBS Sports.

Samuel could be on the brink of a breakout season. Josh Allen is the best quarterback that Samuel has played with in his career.

When Samuel had his career-best season in Carolina, his offensive coordinator was Joe Brady.

Brady, the current coordinator for the Bills, knows how to utilize the wideout’s skill set. Expect Brady to find creative ways to get the ball into Samuel’s hands.

Samuel will be a solid late-round selection for fantasy owners. He has a good chance of establishing career highs within the Buffalo offense. Samuel will be a good flex option, as his versatility puts him in a prime spot to make an impact for the Bills early and often this season.

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Stevie Johnson breaks down depth in Bills receiver room (video)

Stevie Johnson breaks down depth in #Bills receiver room (video)”

Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson has given his opinion on how the team’s current depth chart could look in the wideout room in 2024.

Like many, Johnson agrees the top-three players are likely second-round rookie Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir.

Johnson thinks the difference below that grouping could be draft status and other numbers like size. Names Johnson went on to discuss were Chase Claypool and Justin Shorter.

Johnson’s full thoughts can be found in the Built in Buffalo clip below:

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