Buffalo lost Gabe Davis early in free agency, but the team has a new starting receiver in place. Curtis Samuel has agreed to a three-year, $30MM deal with the Bills, per his agency. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds the pact has a base value of $24MM and includes $15MM guaranteed. 
Samuel spent his first four seasons in Carolina, developing into a starter and two-way threat along the way. His best season came in 2020, when he posted 851 receiving yards while also rushing for 200. The former second-rounder notched five scrimmage touchdowns that year, after posting a combined 14 between the previous two campaigns.
Facing high expectations based on that production, Samuel signed a three-year, $34.5MM deal with the Commanders during his first trip to free agency. The 27-year-old was limited to five games in his debut Washington season, but in the two years after that he drew 92 and 91 targets. Samuel posted 1,269 yards and eight touchdowns over that span while also providing secondary contributions as a runner. He will likely be used all-but exclusively as a receiver in Buffalo, a team with a clear-cut lead back in James Cook.
Davis proved himself to be a succesful deep threat during his four years in Buffalo, but he was unable to develop into a consistent No. 2 option. After no substantive talks on a re-up took place, it came as little surprise when he departed on a deal with the Jaguars. Samuel will aim to step in as an effective secondary WR option behind Stefon Diggs on an offense also featuring an intriguing tight end in 2023 first-rounder Dalton Kincaid.
Mack Hollins has also worked out a deal with Buffalo, but Samuel’s pact is far more lucrative. The latter will be expected to continue his effectiveness as a pass-catcher with the potential to contribute on the ground as well. The Bills will have a number of new faces in place at the WR spot come the 2024 season, and a degree of their offensive success will depend on Samuel’s ability to fit in with a new scheme.
Samuel always seems to be better in theory than in production, and this isn’t the type of receiver I expected them to add, but this is a reasonable contract in this market.
He comes out of nowhere to have big games then disappears for a stretch. Will be interesting to see how this works out.
Very underrated WR. Nice signing. Watch the tape he was catching amazing deep balls from Howell last season against solid defenses. Another weapon for Allen
Savvy move by Buffalo, that guy can catch and move well.
I want to be more excited about this, but Im worried that taking a WR in rd 1 is less likely now.
But I also think this caliber of receiver is a good idea to split reps or guard against the rookie not being immediately impactful.
They should’ve tried to get Diontae. Maybe they did and failed, who knows. Curtis knows how to get open, this still might be an upgrade over Gabe.
I think he is an upgrade over Gabe.
Not on his past statistics, but skill. Gabe was so limited.
Im curious to see if playing for a function NFL offense can get more out of him.
– but I still want a guy like Brian Thomas too!