The Carolina Panthers can let out a sigh of relief despite finishing the 2024 season with a 5-12 record by finding comfort in their franchise quarterback, former No. 1 pick Bryce Young.
The Pennsylvania native had a poor rookie campaign, and the same trends continued into the start of his second season. That was until head coach Dave Canales moved Young to the bench for a few weeks. Upon his return, Young flashed signs of superstar potential, recording seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his final three appearances.
With the QB position locked down, the Panthers’ front office must provide talent around Young, and one NFL analyst believes San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel Sr. could be an ideal fit for the role.
Carolina Panthers Predicted To Land 49ers Deebo Samuel Sr.
After returning to the starting lineup in Week 8, Young recorded a 75.9 QB+ score. That would have ranked 17th on the season, right behind Kyler Murray. It’s not quite elite-level play, but it’s far better than the historically awful company he shared through his first 18 career starts.
As the Panthers look to give him better company next season, USA Today’s Cory Woodroof predicts they could make a move for Samuel, who recently requested a trade from the 49ers.
“Samuel, a South Carolina native, could return to the East Coast and help out quarterback Bryce Young the Carolina Panthers as the team’s de-facto top receiver. The 49ers land a third-round pick in exchange and go in a new direction at the position, while the Panthers give Young the kind of star presence at receiver he needs to continue his development.
“A receiving trio of Samuel, Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker could help Young out a ton in the passing game, and it would give Carolina the chance to trade veteran receiver Adam Thielen some time in the offseason.”
Samuel has been one of San Francisco’s best offensive weapons since coming into the league in 2019. And although he struggled last season, a player like him is the type of floor elevator that makes for a perfect fit for the Panthers and Young.
However, the issue for whoever acquires Samuel will be his contract situation. PFSN’s own Kyle Soppe broke down the receiver’s deal and how the timing of a trade matters for the financial ramifications.
According to Over the Cap, if he’s traded before June 1, the 49ers will take on $31.5 million in dead money; that’s the easy part. His new team would handle Samuel’s contract like this:
- $15,430,530 bonus (prorated over five void years)
- $12,344,424 dead money in 2026 when the deal voids
- $4,256,106 against the cap in 2025
- $1,170,000 base salary
The team acquiring Samuel will pay him around $17.5 million in cash in 2025 on his current deal. However, $15.4 million is an option bonus, so his cap number for 2025 will be just $4.26 million. The remaining $12.3 million hits the cap when the contract voids in 2026.
The Panthers are on the shortlist of suitors for Samuel, but the money will come into play for any team. This won’t be a cut-and-dry trade, but any contender who can financially swing it should want to add a versatile piece to its offense.