Packers’ Rumors: Could They Trade for Wide Receiver Curtis Samuel?
The Green Bay Packers have been connected to Carolina Panthers’ wide receiver Curtis Samuel as a potential trade target before the season.
With the NFL trying to salvage the season and move toward actual games, the rumor market never sleeps. This week, the Green Bay Packers were hypothetically connected to the Carolina Panthers in a potential trade for wide receiver Curtis Samuel via The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia.
In this made-up deal, Green Bay sends Carolina a fourth-round pick in exchange for Samuel.
Samuel had his best season as a pro in 2019 by racking up 54 receptions for 627 yards and six touchdowns. And at just 24-years-old, his best football should be well ahead of him. He could be a nice replacement for the lone free agent signing at the position, Devin Funchess, who opted out due to concerns about COVID-19. That left a questionable receiving group even more depleted.
Samuel would add some much-needed speed to a Packers’ wide receiver group that almost solely depends on size (Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the only real receiver with speed). He’d fit in nicely between Davante Adams and Allen Lazard on the outside and would allow them to zig where they’ve mostly zagged at the position.
The fourth-round pick the Packers send back might be a bit high. Samuel is in the final year of his rookie contract, so it very well could be a one-year rental. Also, despite decent raw numbers, the Panthers looked to him early and often, and he wasn’t always the most efficient receiver. He might thrive with a better quarterback than Kyle Allen, but the same opportunities might not be there in a better offense.
On a Packers’ squad that already had multiple pending free agents in Kenny Clark, David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, and Kevin King (among others), adding another dude who needs to get paid might not be the best idea.
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On the other hand, the Packers’ window at a championship with Aaron Rodgers under center is closing quickly. General manager Brian Gutekunst has been aggressive in building his roster since he took over as the lead decision-maker. Could he bolster his team once again, this time via trade?