4 Commanders heading into make-or-break season in 2022

1. Curtis Samuel

Most players entering the second year of a three-year contract wouldn’t typically be entering a make-or-break season, but Curtis Samuel is an obvious outlier after he played just five games this past season.

Some fans have called for the Commanders to cut bait with Samuel, but that’s not a realistic option given he’s carrying an $18.1 million dead cap charge. Releasing him would also cost the franchise $5.475 million in cap space.

With that said, Samuel could easily find himself on the chopping block this time next year if he doesn’t produce in 2022. Or worse, his injury concerns return. As we all know, a groin injury held him out for the majority of the offseason and it lingered well into the start of the regular season.

Samuel, who reportedly underwent core-muscle surgery (??) in June, endured multiple setbacks and played a total of 30 snaps over the first 11 games. While he played in Weeks 12-14, a hamstring injury, the details of which are still unknown, cost him the final four games of the year.

When all was said and done, the $34.5 million receiver played 84 snaps and contributed six catches for 27 yards.

The good news is Samuel is still one of the more dynamic WRs in the game. In 2020, he notched a career-high in yards per route run at 1.93, which ranked 30th among 115 qualified receivers who generated 30+ targets.

Samuel’s upside is undeniable. He just needs to be on the field to show it. For that reason, he gets the top spot on this list.