The number of NFL free agency signings and transactions has been so high that some have gone unnoticed. The
addition of Curtis Samuel to the Buffalo Bills is one such event.
To work with offensive coordinator Joe Brady again—he had the same position with the Carolina Panthers in 2020
and 2021—the seasoned wide receiver inked a three-year, $24 million contract. Only the 2020 campaign saw Brady
and Samuel together in Carolina, but it was the best season of Samuel’s career as a pro, as he finished with a career-
high 77 catches for 851 yards and three touchdowns.
The Buffalo Bills have to sign this. Other than Khalil Shakir and Stefon Diggs, they don’t have much in their receiving
room after losing Gabe Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Samuel is a highly adaptable and dynamic player who can
set up shop anywhere on the pitch. He’ll be a valuable asset to the Bills and Josh Allen. However, his fit calls for a
grade and more research into the signing.
Curtis Samuel is a more well-rounded player who can benefit Buffalo in ways that Gabe Davis was never able to,
making him a totally different player altogether. The evidence supports it.
For the most part, Davis served as the Bills’ field stretcher and depended excessively on Allen to find him deep.
Eighth among all wide receivers, his average depth of target was 15 yards downfield, per playerprofiler.com. Davis’
average depth of target in 2022 was 15.2 yards, while the previous year it was 13.4. It looks like Davis’s only available
arrow is to go deep.
That set Davis up for some huge games. His 201-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Kansas City Chiefs
in the 2021 Divisional Round will live in infamy. But he also produced some duds due to his playing style and
position in Buffalo’s attack.
