This offseason, the Buffalo Bills have made their first attempt at filling the wide receiver position. Following the signing of free agency Gabe Davis by Jacksonville and the subsequent departure of Deonte Harty, the team found itself shorthanded for two receivers in its top four.
The organization announced on Friday that one of those spots was filled on Thursday night after reaching a three-year agreement with free agent Curtis Samuel. According to a number of publications, the $24 million three-year pact includes a $15 million guarantee. The entire value of the agreement can reach $30 million.
How he fits in: Samuel’s signing with Buffalo is intriguing since it provides the Bills with a flexible option that can be applied in a number of ways. Samuel spent the last two years in Washington mostly as a slot receiver. Pro Football Focus reports that between 2022 and 2023, Samuel was lined up as the slot receiver 74.6 percent of the time when he played wide receiver alone. However, he is also adaptable and capable of lining up in the backfield, as demonstrated by the 63 snaps he played there in the previous two seasons. He attempted 38 rushes for 187 yards in 2022. Samuel has the potential to develop into a hybrid player who can play both slots and align himself.
Impact until 2024: The addition of Samuel greatly improves the Bills’ wide receiver depth chart and provides them with a number of options. When Stefon Diggs isn’t playing, they can employ him as a slot receiver and move Khalil Shakir outside to the Z receiving position. He can leave Shakir inside at slot receiver and fill in for Diggs at Z-receiver. On rare occasions, Samuel might even replace Shakir as the slot receiver. Although defenses still need to respect the run, he can also provide some plays out of the backfield to add another legitimate pass catcher to the field according to his skill set. He is not, however, a boundary receiver by trade.
Cap update: Considering what we know about the Bills offseason and the re-signings of DaQuan Jones and A.J. Epenesa, this is probably one of the largest swings they have left with their existing cap space, even though the specifics of Samuel’s deal, particularly its structure, are still unknown. When Tre’Davious White’s post-June 1 designated release is finalized, another $10 million or more will become available on June 1. This might lead to another round of signings this summer.Prospects: Although Samuel doesn’t always change the course of a game, he possesses the kind of explosiveness and versatility to suddenly emerge as a key player in any match. That can definitely enhance the Bills’ chances in 2024, when they might be counting more on Josh Allen and the offense to win games than on outstanding defensive efforts from that side with a loaded starting lineup. Samuel is still very much in the prime of his career going into his age-28 campaign. The most intriguing thing about this particular contract is perhaps that it has nothing to do with their probable decision to choose a wide receiver with their first-round draft pick. The only players currently on the team that match the Davis vacant position are