Buffalo Bills WR Curtis Samuel Listed Among 'Worst Free-Agent Signings'

Bleacher Report isn't on board with the Buffalo Bills' signing of receiver Curtis Samuel.

Dec 24, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams (56) holds Curtis Samuel's (4) jersey. / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

It's never too early to guess if a trade or big free-agent signing is going to pan out.

Bleacher Report picked its 14 worst free-agent signings, and among them were the Buffalo Bills signing receiver Curtis Samuel to a three-year $24 million deal. Among the negatives Bleacher Report saw in the signing was Samuel having a similar game to Khalil Shakir, who has emerged as Josh Allen's favorite target in the second half of the 2023 season.

Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Curtis Samuel (4). / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

"With both Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs now gone, it's hard to believe GM Brandon Beane approached free agency with the mindset of just adding the parallel skill set of Samuel to pair with Khalil Shakir, two inside-out, smaller pass-catchers to be Josh Allen's top targets," Bleacher Report writes.

Samuel has been reliable, with at least 50 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns in four of his last five seasons. During that stretch, he had his best season with the Carolina Panthers in 2020 with 77 catches for 851 yards and three touchdowns, his lone season with current Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady as the play caller. That season led to a three-year $30 million contract with the Washington Commanders in the 2021 offseason.

While Samuel having a career year in his one season with Brady as an offensive coordinator should give a reason for optimism, it's still fair to wonder if the Bills could have allocated their resources elsewhere for a receiver the likes of Tee Higgins or Brandon Aiyuk to help keep pace with the elite of the AFC in the aftermath of trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.

"I expect both Samuel and Shakir to do well this fall, but making a move for a legitimate 'X' wideout to add to the perimeter in say a Tee Higgins would have made sense for Buffalo," Bleacher Report writes.

Time will only tell if the Bills' signing of Samuel will pan out. If the Bills expect him to be their top receiver and replace Diggs, it could lead to disappointment, but if he's a solid player behind a clear-cut WR1 and tight end Dalton Kincaid has a breakout season, the deal will look much better.

For now though with the Bills' current situation at receiver, unless he regains the form he had in 2020 with the Panthers, it's not unfair to question if this signing will be worth it given the receiver options they already have and could have pursued.