Veteran Bills WR May Be Saved From Trade Block After Roster Shakeup
Getty
Curtis Samuel of the Buffalo Bills carries the ball for a touchdown
It took the Buffalo Bills four games to find a use for veteran wide receiver Curtis Samuel this season, but a change at a key roster position could ensure that he remains in the lineup this season — and off the trade block.
Samuel was a healthy scratch for the first three games of the season before being activated for Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints. He served as the team’s kick returner after Brandon Codrington was benched, a move that could flip Samuel’s fortunes and keep him on the gameday roster going forward.
Bills Bring Curtis Samuel Back
Samuel was one of the biggest additions to the roster in the 2024 offseason, signing a three-year, $24 million deal with expectations that he would serve as one of the top wide receivers. But the Bills struggled to get Samuel involved in the offense last season as he made 31 receptions for 253 yards and one touchdown.
Samuel’s role grew even smaller this year, with speculation that the team could trade him before the season started. While Samuel ultimately made the 53-man roster at the end of the summer, he was listed as inactive for the first three games.
Samuel could find new life in a different role. Bills coach Sean McDermott told reporters that the team benched Codrington so they could get a look at other returners.
“Seeing how the gameday roster looks with certain players up and certain players down, with the goal of making sure we have our best guys out there,” McDermott explained.
While Samuel had only a modest impact in the return game on Sunday, he could offer more roster flexibility than Codrington for the remainder of the season. Samuel is a regular in the offense, while Codrington rarely plays at his given position of cornerback.
Curtis Samuel Seen as Trade Target
Heading into Sunday’s game, some NFL insiders saw Samuel as a player likely to move at the upcoming NFL trade deadline. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler listed him alongside the now-injured Tyreek Hill as top candidates to hit the trade block as targets for receiver-hungry teams.
The Steelers could have one more move in them, and I’d be willing to bet they’d at least have a conversation on Tyreek Hill if Miami engaged,” Fowler wrote. “Curtis Samuel is also a healthy scratch in Buffalo despite making $7.4 million this season.”
Reporter Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com predicted before the season started that Samuel could fetch the Bills a Day 3 draft pick in return should they put him on the trade block — while also clearing up some key salary cap space.
“Multiple teams are looking for help at wide receiver, which could benefit the Bills in unloading Curtis Samuel’s contract,” Talbot wrote. “In the trade scenario, Buffalo sends the receiver and a future fifth-round pick to a receiver-needy team in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick. Buffalo doesn’t care about the potential return as they get Samuel’s contract off the books and are left with a minimal dead cap hit.”
The Bills could also be reluctant to deplete their wide receiver depth, especially with the team harboring Super Bowl hopes this season.
J.K. Dobbins Declares War on NFL After Week 4 Statement Win: “Nobody Can Stop Us”
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins was instrumental in the team's Week 4 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. In the win, Dobbins became the first Bronco in 38 games to have over 100 yards rushing. While he was unable to find the end zone, Dobbins finished the day with 16 carries for 101 yards and added one catch for four yards.
After the game, Dobbins was asked about how far the team has come along since Week 1, and that's when his mic-drop moment came. Dobbins wasn't overconfident, but believes in great things for the Broncos organization moving forward.
"We're getting there, we're getting there for sure," Dobbins said. "We can get better, I can be better. Today I had some runs where I could have broken a tackle and gone to the crib [ . . . ] and I will, I'll get better. I'll keep working on that. It's just going to get better each and every week, we feed off each other. Pass game, run game, nobody can stop us if we keep doing what we did tonight."
The veteran running back made an impact in the win vs. Bengals
The veteran running back was one of the big offseason acquisitions for the Broncos, and looks worth every penny through the early stages of the 2025 season.
He's the ultimate teammate as well, pointing to head coach Sean Payton and his teammates when asked about what it meant to break 100 yards on the ground. He even added a personal goal of perhaps going back-to-back with more than 100 yards.
"That means a lot to me, I've been working really hard to get that, especially for Coach Payton," Dobbins said. "I know that means a lot to him as well. The O-line was blocking incredible, can't do it without those guys. It's a great feeling, and maybe I can go back-to-back now."
Now, it wasn't just Dobbins as the team has a rookie sensation, and running back RJ Harvey added to the mix. It was nearly a 50/50 split between the two talented running backs; Harvey had 14 carries, and Dobbins finished with 16.
The rookie found the end zone for the first time in his young career. Harvey finished the day with 14 carries for 58 yards while adding four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
Dobbins was asked about the balanced attack on offense in the running game, once again showcasing why he's such a great leader on the team.
"It's a great balance, I'm always in RJ's corner, always trying to help him," Dobbins said. "I do everything I can to make him a really good pro. He's going to keep getting better, and we're going to help each other in the long run. That's the only thing that matters, us getting the win and me helping the young guy."
Payton's strategy appears to be working through the early stages of the season, something that Dobbins alluded to with his comments postgame. Putting the team in the right position to maintain success is vital for the long-term goals of the team, and it's something that Dobbins thinks Payton has been doing an excellent job of.
"It was very helpful, Coach Payton is the best, I love him," Dobbins said. "He's always going to figure out ways to put us in the right position. Not just the running backs, but everybody on the team. I appreciate him for doing that. We're just going to keep getting better."
The Broncos have a reliable one-two punch in the backfield. If Dobbins keeps stacking 100-yard games alongside the rise of Harvey, Denver's offense could be on the verge of something special.
