Former Washington Commanders wide receiver Curtis Samuel is signing a three-year, $24 million deal worth up to $30 million, including $15 million guaranteed, with the Buffalo Bills, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
Samuel is a logical addition to the Bills’ wide receiver room, which includes Stefon Diggs, after Gabe Davis departed for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Buffalo is plenty familiar with what Samuel is capable of, as general manager Brandon Beane was part of the Carolina Panthers front office that drafted him in 2017, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady coached Samuel during the 2020 season in Carolina.
Samuel will provide the Bills’ offense with a player who can contribute as a rusher and by running routes from multiple spots on the field. Under Brady, he had a career-high 41 rushes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. He is not the deep downfield threat that Davis was for the offense, but he adds a skill set that is not currently on the Bills’ roster as the team continues its trend of investing in talent around quarterback Josh Allen.
The versatile Samuel has gained 4,098 yards on 317 receptions and 121 carries with 29 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Commanders and the Panthers.
As a receiver, Samuel has done most of his damage underneath, averaging 10.7 yards per catch in his career. He caught 62 passes for 613 yards and four touchdowns last season, his third with the Commanders.
His first season with Washington was marred by a sports hernia injury that required surgery in the summer and bothered him all season, limiting him to five games. He played in all but one game the following two seasons.
Samuel, who has rushed for a touchdown in each of the past two seasons, has proved his versatility as a ball carrier, owing to his days as an Ohio State running back. In addition to his 2020 performance with Carolina, he gained 187 yards on 38 carries in 2022 with Washington.
Carolina drafted Samuel in the second round in 2017. He signed a three-year deal worth $34.5 million with Washington after the 2020 season.
ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg and John Keim contributed to this report.