NFL Writer Thinks You Should Back This Overlooked Bills WR

Few story arcs in professional football are more captivating than that of a late-career breakthrough: watching a generally known, but overlooked, player ultimately make a huge impact when placed in a favorable situation is as entertaining as rewarding, an easy to understand storyline. the root of a story that is simply amusing to watch it unfold.

If one writer is to be believed, a story like this could unfold in Western New York this fall.

NFL.com writer Tom Blair recently wrote an article identifying a player to root for on every AFC team, circling recently signed wide receiver Curtis Samuel as a Buffalo Bills player worth rooting for .

“Samuel lived firmly out of the spotlight for most of his career,” Blair wrote. “Buffalo may be facing an uncertain immediate future, but that’s nothing compared to the general futility that Samuel faced during most of his time in Carolina and Washington. He can now be the veteran offensive pillar that helps Josh Allen and Co. continue to compete even after losing players like Stefon Diggs.

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“As much as I love a good journeyman career marked by respectable production in chaotic environments, it would be great to see Samuel truly unlocked by offensive coordinator Joe Brady, under whom the receiver reached personal highs with the Panthers in 2020 (118 keys, 1051). scrimmage yards).

Samuel, as Blair notes, did not have the most productive professional career, perhaps because of his dysfunctional environment; he hasn’t usurped 1,000 receiving yards in a single season since being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, collecting more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage just once. The versatile speedster, however, has not benefited from consistent quarterback play, with Carolina and Washington both running signal-callers in recent seasons.

Samuel, 27, signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Bills during the offseason to join forces with the best quarterback he has ever shared a field with, Josh Allen. He also reunites with offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who Blair notes called the plays in Carolina throughout Samuel’s most productive professional season.

The wideout has the opportunity to play a fairly significant role in a revamped Buffalo receiving corps that parted ways with Gabriel Davis and perennial Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs during the offseason; Samuel will have to compete with Khalil Shakir and rookie Keon Coleman for targets, but given his demonstrated comfort in a Brady scheme, there are obvious reasons for optimism, making this versatile weapon an easy player to root for.

—Benefit from free bill coverage Buffalo Bills on SI—

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