Through 4 years in Carolina he has played primarily as a wide receiver, a position that actually coming out of college was not his primary position even though he took to it like a fish to water. Samuel stands 5'11 195 lbs, roughly the size of your average slot receiver, or your typical 3rd down back. You see Samuel actually primarily played running back in college. He racked up 172 carries 1,286 yards, and 15 tds or an average of 7.5 yards per carry to just 107 receptions for 1,249 yards and 9 tds. His final season in college saw him display his versatility he had 97 carries for 771 yards, 7.9 yards per carry, and 8 tds, adding 74 receptions, 865 yards, 11.7 per reception, and 8 tds. As well as adding 6 punt returns for 19 yards. Since being drafted he has always been asked to run the occasional jet sweep, or reverse. But 2020 saw him add RB back to his resume. After Christian McCaffery suffered an injury Mike Davis took over, but Samuel saw an uptick in his snap count as a true running back. So far through 12 games he has a career high in carries, yards, and tds. 29, for 139 yards, and 2 tds, while adding 61 receptions (also a career high) for 585 yards, and 3 tds.
The receiver/running back/return man will hit free agency turning 25 years old just before next season. There is a long shot he resigns with Carolina but crazier things have happened. I anticipate him looking for a contract that will pay him somewhere in the $7.5 to $10 million range a year. If Breshard Perriman can find a team willing to pay him $6.5 million after 1 solid year Samuel undoubtedly can earn more considering he is dramatically more versatile, has a far more consistent resume, and adds value in the return game. I could see several teams viewing him as the perfect number 2 receiver in their offense, in the mold of Deebo Samuel in San Francisco.
I could see a team like New England pouncing on Samuel in a heartbeat for a 3 year, $27 million deal with around $18 million guaranteed. This would give them a guy to replace Julian Edelman as the high volume slot receiver, and possibly even add value as an eventual replacement for James White. Indy is a possibility as well. They have been searching for competent wide receivers for years, except this would be a move to make this position a strength, as well as add versatile playmakers to an offense that I anticipate will have a new qb again in 2021. Adding Samuel would allow Pittman, and Hilton to start outside. Samuel would be the starting slot receiver, as well as line up as a back at times as well this would give them another option other than Marlon Mack who is injury riddled in recent years. My final team would be Green Bay. The Packers tried to acquire Will Fuller before the deadline to compliment Davante Adams, however I think Samuel dills the same needs Fuller would have plus as I have stated multiple times before, he adds versatility a trait Matt LaFluer is used to utilizing. In 2017 he oversaw an offense that saw Todd Gurley catch 64 passes, for 788 yards, 6 tds, in 2018 he oversaw an offense in Tennesee that saw Dion Lewis catch 59 passes good for second on the team. Adding Samuel to this offense could be the missing piece the Packers need, a guy who can draw attention away from Adams and the talent to punish teams when they single up on him.
Samuel has developed into one of my favorite players to follow in the NFL and I sincerely hope he lands with an innovative coach that realizes he is infinitely more valuable moved around like the Queen on a chess board, a jack of all trades that can attack you from anywhere on any play whether it's out wide as a receiver, in the slot, in the return game, or as a runner this guy is the real deal and only scratching the surface of what he could become in the right offense with the right qb.
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