All About Washington's Curtis Samuel With Stats and Contract Info

All about Curtis Samuel with stats and contract info originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Former Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel signed with the Washington Commanders to a three-year, $34.5 million deal back in March 2021. He was brought to the team in an effort to bolster their offensive weapons and take some of the brunt off Terry McLaurin's shoulders. The team expected him to be an immediate contributor to the offense, but what ended up happening was quite the opposite.

Samuel battled muscle injuries all season and only suited up for Washington in five games in 2021. Six catches for 27 yards and zero touchdowns would be his only contribution to the Commanders' struggling offense all year.

Though his first season in D.C. was disappointing, Samuel has looked incredible through his first few weeks of regular season play for Washington in 2022. He burst onto the scene immediately during Week 1, putting up 72 total yards and a touchdown in the Commanders' victory over Jacksonville. With Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson shoring up the rest of Washington's receiving core, Samuel looks to maintain a vital role in the Burgundy & Gold's offense for the rest of 2022.

Here's everything you need to know about Curtis Samuel:

Curtis Samuel's Bio

• Height: 5-foot-11
• Weight: 195 pounds
• Birthdate: August 11, 1996
• Age: 26 
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
• NFL experience: 6 seasons (2017-22)
• Jersey No. 10

Curtis Samuel's Career Stats

With the exception of last season, Samuel has been an effective receiving threat in the NFL. Here are his career statistics (through Oct. 28, 2022): 

• 65 games played
• 230 receptions
• 2,454 receiving yards (10.7 yards per reception)
• 16 receiving touchdowns
• 89 rushes
• 566 rushing yards (6.4 rushing yards per attempt)
• 5 rushing touchdowns

Curtis Samuel's Contract Details

Samuel inked his current contract with the Washington Commanders in March of 2021. The deal is for three years and $34.5 million, for an average annual salary of $11.5 million. The contract included a $12 million signing bonus and $23 million guaranteed.

What is Curtis Samuel's fantasy outlook for 2022?

As with the vast majority of players, Curtis Samuel's fantasy outlook entirely depends on several moving pieces. His health was a serious concern last year, but he looks as though prior injury concerns have been quelled for 2022. Carson Wentz's stability is another interesting point; now that Wentz is out with an injury for the next few weeks, it'll be Taylor Heinicke stepping in and trying to give Samuel a chance to shine.

In total, as a No. 2 receiving option in D.C. behind Terry McLaurin, Samuel's floor would be a constantly injured waiver wire staple, but his ceiling is an extremely solid WR2 on most fantasy rosters. So far, he's made good on being an extremely valuable late-round pick, and might just be the flier that wins some fantasy owners their leagues. If he's available on waivers, pick him up.

What is Curtis Samuel's role with the Commanders?

Washington signed Samuel with the hope that he would immediately complement Terry McLaurin as a receiving threat at all three levels of passing. Though that didn't happen his first year in D.C., Samuel and his coaches hope that he'll showcase that talent with the remaining two years on his deal.

If all goes well with Samuel's offseason and he's able to hit his stride in 2022, his ceiling is encouraging. His speed and versatility could make him a dynamic threat in both the running and passing games, and even when he doesn't have the ball in his hands he could be used as a diversion to free up more space for McLaurin, Antonio Gibson and others.

Early into the 2022 campaign, it appears that Samuel is making good on his resume for the Commanders. By the way, Samuel had a longstanding connection with a few members of the Burgundy & Gold, as he overlapped with Ron Rivera in Carolina and with McLaurin at Ohio State in college.