Free agent wide receiver Curtis Samuel is headed into his eighth NFL season and is looking for a new team. The seven-year pro has 317 receptions for 3,383 yards and 22 touchdowns for his career. He also has 121 carries for 715 yards and seven touchdowns over the course of his time with the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders.
Here’s a look at which NFL teams could be strong fits for Samuel, with three potential landing spots immediately coming to mind.
Curtis Samuel Free Agency Landing Spots
Pittsburgh Steelers Need Help At Receiver — Pronto
There’s a seemingly odd symbiotic relationship between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Commanders with players. Antwaan Randle El, Ryan Clark, Trai Turner, Shaun Suisham, Ziggy Hood, Jon Bostic, and the late Dwayne Haskins have all been with both franchises.
The next person could be Samuel, and for very good reasons.
Pittsburgh’s leading receiver was George Pickens, who had 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. Then, Diontae Johnson had 51 catches for 717 yards and five score. Pittsburgh’s third-best receiver was Jaylen Warren with 61 grabs for 370 yards and no touchdowns.
With only 13 TD receptions to show on the season, Pittsburgh needs help fast. Samuel would add another receiving threat, as he’s coming off of a year where he had 62 grabs for 613 yards and four touchdowns.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is looking to redeem himself after being fired as the Atlanta Falcons head coach. It’s not a bad opportunity to potentially add a sure-handed receiver and, most likely, a quarterback in the offseason.
New England Patriots Have a Mighty Need at WR
Most of the New England Patriots issues stem from QB play. Whether it was Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe, the team just didn’t get enough from its signal-callers.
Jones went 224 for 345 (64.9%) for 2,120 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Zappe was somehow worse — tossing 127 for 212 (59.9%) for 1,272 yards, six touchdown passes, and nine interceptions.
New England’s stats in the passing game were less than subpar, they were flat-out bad in 2023. The Patriots had the 28th passing offense in yardage (3,069), 27th in touchdowns (16), and had the third-most interceptions thrown in the NFL (21).
Poor quarterbacking is one problem, the other is not having enough weaponry. Demario Douglas was New England’s leading receiver with 49 catches for 561 yards but zero touchdowns.
TE Hunter Henry had the second-most receiving yards with 419 on 42 receptions with a team-high six touchdowns. If New England is looking to spread the wealth with the football and add another productive receiver at a reasonable cost, Samuel is the guy.
He’s coming off of a three-year contract worth $34.5 million. Samuel’s signing bonus was $12 million, with an average salary of $11.5 million per year and $23 million in guarantees, per Spotrac.
The Patriots could opt to make a splashy move with $101,771,054 in cap space this offseason, or they could lock up a 27-year-old proven veteran receiver to a cost-effective contract that will allow them to cover much of its needs.
Curtis Samuel Makes Return to Ohio
Samuel played his college ball at Ohio State. Many people in Cleveland are familiar with his work at Ohio State, where he played both running back and receiver, compiling 172 rushes for 1,286 yards and 15 touchdowns, along with 107 receptions for 1,249 yards and nine touchdowns as a receiver.
He totaled 2,535 yards and 24 touchdowns from scrimmage during his three-year career with the Buckeyes. Now, he has a chance to come back as a member of the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns had an odd season in 2023. They made the playoffs, but QB Deshaun Watson was lost for the season in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens.
KEEP READING: Top FA Wide Receivers 2024
Then, 2023 fifth-round selection Dorian Thompson-Robinson was supplanted by 39-year-old Joe Flacco. TE David Njoku miraculously only missed one game after suffering burns to his face and still went on to put up 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns.
As for adding Samuel to the mix, he can take pressure off of both Amari Cooper and Njoku. Samuel can also continue to push Elijah Moore, who is heading into a contract season.
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
