Jaylen Samuels is still playing on the third year if a rookie contract, meaning he is under team control through the 2021 season. During the 2020 season he is making just $814,516. A bargain for a running back who is as versatile as Samuels. In 2021 he is set to make just under $1,000,000. So we can rule out his cost to the team as a contributing factor to his lack of touches. Which brings me to the thought that the Steelers are looking at trading Samuels.
Trading Jaylen Samuels might not be the craziest of ideas if you aren't enamored with him as a player. He is attractive to other teams based off of his age, contract status, and his past production. I could see several different teams looking into him especially now as injuries pile up across the league. However he is not your conventional running back which could be why the Steelers are not playing him as often as I believe they should. Samuels background at multiple positions meant he actually spent more time catching passes than he did running the ball in college. He played running back, fullback, tight end, and wide receiver. Which has probably stunted his growth as a runner but we are talking about a 24 year old back that can catch passes like a tight end or receiver, but stands 6'0 225 lbs. If he was 2 inches taller and 10 pounds heavier he would be playing tight end right now.
After graduating college with 201 receptions for 1,851 yards, 9.2 per rec., 19 tds through the air, 182 carries, 1,107 yards 6.1 per carry, 28 tds on the ground, completed 2 of 3 passes for 84 yards and 1 td, 12 kick returns for 230 yards, 8 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery, it was clear this guy could do it all on offense so naturally it was decided he would play running back. The Steelers were a team who just moved on from LeVeon Bell who played as much as a receiver as he did as a runner so Samuels' skillset fits what they want. He was drafted to be the backup to James Conner but was thrust into action after Conner suffered an injury in week 13. Samuels was asked to start the final 3 games.
2018 was Samuels' rookie year and we would see him play in 14 games for the Steelers playing admirably for a guy who had finished his college career listed as a tight end. He had 56 carries for 256 yards or 4.6 yds per carry, and adding 26 receptions for 199 yards or 7.7 per reception. In week 15 against the Patriots Samuels totalled 21 touches for 172 yards. Samuels was just 4 yards from tying the rookie single game rushing record for the Steelers. Heading into 2019 the Steelers fans were thrilled at the prospect of having a healthy Conner and Samuels together with another year under his belt however 2019 did not go as planned.
In the 4th round of the 2019 NFL draft the Pittsburgh Steelers select RB Benny Snell University of Kentucky. Not exactly a huge surprise, the Steelers love to run the ball and depth us important when you want to run it as much as they do. Heading into the season Samuels was again the number 2 back behind Conner who would suffer an injury in week 2 and miss the next 4 weeks. Samuels stepped in and immediately due to an injury to Big Ben they were using him as a wildcat qb at times. He would go on to throw 5 passes completing 4 for 35 yards. He added 47 receptions for 305 yards and 1 td but produced just 2.7 yards per carry on 66 carries for 175 yards and 1 td. However this doesn't tell the whole story.
Samuels struggled but I don't attribute this entirely to poor play. Their offense was decimated by injuries. Big Ben, Mason Rudolph both missed games hamstringing an already rough passing game, Conner, Samuels, and Snell all suffered injuries which completely ruined any rotation to keep these guys fresh, Juju, James Washington, Ryan Switzer, Xavier Grimble, and Vance McDonald all dealt with injuries in the passing game as well. Guards Ramon Foster, Zach Banner, and Stephon Wiznewski all missed time due to injury, while center Maurkice Pouncey played through injury. Fullback Roosevelt Nix was also lost to IR early in the season. That's a lot for any offense to overcome. However the Steelers must have seen something about Samuels they didn't like because through 3 weeks it's become clear he is now the fourth option in 2020.
Through week 3 Samuels has 2 carries, and 2 receptions. Meanwhile Conner and Snell have been fighting back and forth for top duties, while rookie Anthony McFarland has been the third back off the bench. Meanwhile Samuels who has experience as a wide receiver, tight end, fullback, running back, kick returner, and even as a passer is barely seeing the field. This is the time for Pittsburgh to break down and ship their former 5th round pick out of town. The question becomes who would even be interested?
Looking around the league teams have already seen injuries in large numbers. The first team off the top of my head would be the 49ers. The 49ers traded away Matt Breida this offseason leaving them with Tevin Coleman, Jerrick McKinnon, Jeff Wilson Jr., and Raheem Mostert. 3 weeks in and Coleman, and Mostert are both injured and missing games while McKinnon a guy that has missed the previous two seasons with ACL injuries is now leading the backfield with Wilson Jr. The second back in the rotation. However both of these guys are smaller backs. Adding a 6'0 225 lb former tight end to an offense that prefers pass catching running backs would be a huge boom for the team. I honestly think Samuels would be the most complete back Shanahan has had in years and a guy who could add another dimension to his offense if he decided to use some wildcat.
In Philly there was talk of depth concerns behind Sanders all offseason. Then that depth was tested week 1 with mixed results. Obviously this team has former Super Bowl hero Corey Clement on the roster, as well as Boston Scott on the 53 man roster. With the new practice squad rules the Eagles kept 2 running backs on the practice squad likely to call up when needed but having a guy like Samuels who is much more of a dual threat than Holyfield, Killins, or Clement would add insurance should they need it again. This is also a team that just lost Dallas Goedert, and Jalen Reagor to injury, adding a guy like Samuels who can almost play an H back type role for them would be smart.
New York Giants just lost Saquan Barkley to a season ending injury. Their depth chart needs another bigger back who can carry the load even with Dion Lewis the quintessential scatback on the roster, as well as former fourth round pick Wayne Gallman. It's time the Giants send Pittsburgh a 6th round pick for Samuels to round out their depth chart.
Chicago Bears just lost Tarik "I can do it all" Cohen to an ACL tear so why not import another pass catching specialist to the backfield? This time one that has a bit more size to him. Samuels would be a solid depth addition behind starter David Montgomery. The Bears only depth behind Montgomery right now is Cordarelle Patterson a former first round pick at WR whose body type lends itself more to playing RB, but is still a guy who has minimal experience as a true RB. Adding Samuels would add to the looks the offense could give to opposing defenses in passing situations. Matt Nagy seems to have an affinity for receivers that can run the ball or backs that can catch.
Carolina however is the one team I could see him going to an seeing nearly immediate success. With McCaffery injured, Mike Davis stepped in. Davis has proven he is one hell of a receiver having already caught 16 passes for 119 yards second on the team behind only Robbie Anderson. But he has only produced 47 rushing yards at 3.5 yards per carry. With the backups behind him having produced almost nothing on the field on offense. Adding Samuels would allow Joe Brady to get creative again. The Panthers love running backs that can catch or receivers that can run, just look at the role Curtis Samuel and Mike Davis have taken on. Now imagine a player that could do both of their roles and you've got Jaylen Samuels.
The Chiefs could be a dark horse candidate to make a trade. Currently behind rookie Clyde Edwards-Hellaire they have Darrell Williams and Darwin Thompson. Williams has just 29 yards on 9 carries, and 20 yards on 5 receptions not exactly eye popping numbers. 3rd string back Darwin Thompson has had better luck with 32 yards on 6 carries, however last season he managed just 4.8 yards per reception, and 3.5 yards per carry on a total of 46 touches. I think if any two coaches could carve out a role for Samuels its Andy Reid, and Eric Bienemy a former running backs coach. I can only imagine what they would cook up with versatile guys like Edwards-hellaire and Samuels at their disposal.
I sincerely hope they trade Samuel's because allowing him to just waste a year as the 4th back on a depth chart is much less than what his talent dictates. He may not be a starting back in the NFL but on the right team Samuels could play a large role in an offense and in a running back by committee would be a solid number 2 option for most teams.
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