The Buffalo Bills won on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets but lost out to their in-state rival for wide receiver Davante Adams. Hours later, after Adams was sent to the Jets, the Bills added wideout Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. While the Bills will be much better with Cooper, the acquisition has a trickle-down effect.
Namely, former Ohio State wide receiver Curtis Samuel now appears to be on the outs in Buffalo. We take a look at how Cooper will affect Samuel's outlook with Buffalo moving forward.
Samuel just signed a three-year deal with Buffalo worth $24 million with $15 million in guaranteed this offseason. Despite that, he's seen no more than four targets in any game. Until Monday night against the Jets, Samuel hadn't topped 22 yards in any one contest.
He caught three passes for 44 yards on Monday night, but it's clear that Samuel doesn't have a role with the franchise. I predicted this back at the time, as Khalil Shakir is a better slot player. It's hard to get the most out of a slot-first player who can also run the ball when there's not a dedication to continually working that individual into the game plan.
Because Buffalo so heavily incentivized Samuel to sign, the team's only real recourse with his contract is to trade him after June 1st, 2025. They'd either need him to take a pay cut before or after the deal, though, as he has a $9 million cap hit. Cutting him with a June 1 distinction would only save $1.5 million of cap space in 2025 and then $8 million in 2026.
The former Panther and Commander has only 12 catches for 92 yards on the season.
Samuel had an impressive football career at Ohio State from 2014 to 2016, showcasing his versatility as both a running back and wide receiver. Recruited as a four-star prospect from Brooklyn, New York, Samuel quickly became a valuable asset in the Buckeyes' offense.
In his freshman year, he made an impact as a backup running back, contributing 383 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His role expanded in 2015, but it was his junior season in 2016 that saw him truly shine. Samuel became the epitome of a dual-threat weapon, excelling in both the ground and passing games.
He finished the season with 771 rushing yards, 865 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns, becoming the first Buckeye to record 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in a single season.
Samuel’s explosive speed and playmaking ability made him a critical part of Ohio State’s offense, and he delivered some of the team's most memorable plays, including the game-winning touchdown in double overtime against Michigan in 2016.
His all-purpose skill set and dynamic performances earned him First-Team All-Big Ten honors and All-American recognition. Samuel declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season and was selected in the second round by the Panthers in 2017.
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