Curtis Samuel, the former Ohio State wide receiver, is changing teams for the second time in his NFL career, now joining the Buffalo Bills.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Samuel has signed a three-year contract worth $24 million with the Bills, with $15 million guaranteed and potential to earn up to $30 million with bonuses.
Originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers as the 40th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Samuel played four seasons there, marked by some injury interruptions. In Carolina, he caught 185 passes for 2,087 yards and 14 touchdowns, and also rushed for 478 yards and five touchdowns on 72 carries.
After the 2020 season, Samuel moved to the Washington Commanders (formerly the Washington Football Team) on a three-year, $34.5 million contract. There, alongside Terry McLaurin, another former Ohio State receiver, Samuel accumulated 132 receptions for 1,296 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons, along with 237 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Throughout his six-year NFL career, Samuel has amassed 255 receptions for 2,770 yards and 18 touchdowns, and has carried the ball 114 times for 676 yards and six additional scores. His most productive season was his final one with the Panthers, where he played 15 games, started five, and recorded 77 catches for 851 yards and three touchdowns, along with 41 rushes for 200 yards and two touchdowns.
In college, Samuel spent three successful seasons at Ohio State, where he showcased his versatility. As a freshman, he ran for 383 yards and six touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 95 yards. In his sophomore year, he had 132 rushing yards and 289 receiving yards with three total touchdowns. Then, as a junior in 2016, he emerged as a star, tallying 771 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 865 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns, making him the first Buckeye to achieve over 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving in a single season.
