After months of speculation about which team would be his landing spot for 2026, Deebo Samuel is heading back home.
The San Francisco 49ers are signing Samuel to a one-year deal. So what does the NFL world think of this reunion?
NFL World Fully on Board as 49ers Sign Deebo Samuel
The reunion was a big shock for some.
“Wasn’t sure if this would happen after how ugly things got in 2024, but this must mean Pearsall is cooked,” said one influencer on X. To follow up on that last point, wideout Ricky Pearsall is dealing with knee swelling, which is related to a PCL injury he dealt with last season.
Deebo was solid in Washington last year
Wasn’t sure if this would happen after how ugly things got in 2024, but this must mean the Pearsall is cooked https://t.co/LGoYGvq3Ag
— Nico (@elitetakes_) July 31, 2026
Unfortunately, Pearsall has dealt with a spate of injuries during his NFL career. While the projections for this season look grim, even if Pearsall can play more than expected, Deebo is still good to have as an option in this offense.
This is a division with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua, who both had elite years last season for the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, respectively. The 49ers will need all the firepower that they can get to keep pace this time around.
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One influencer added to this idea by saying on X, “Makes a ton of sense with Pearsall injury.”
Makes a ton of sense with Pearsall injury https://t.co/kXKpFcuOO5
— Tone Digs (@ToneDigz) July 31, 2026
Harrison Graham, part of Chat Sports, found this move to be obvious. “The Pearsall injury made this obvious,” Graham said on X.
The Pearsall injury made this obvious. https://t.co/vzFyzT2NoY
— Harrison Graham (@HGrahamNFL) July 31, 2026
One influencer on X was not only excited by the 49ers signing Samuel, but also pointed out how he could be used on special teams.
“Deebo Samuel is back with the 49ers and at what looks to be an ideal incentive-laden price for them so that he can backfill the offense, possibly Pearsall-less, with a specialty weapon. Remember, Deebo can also be a needed return man weapon.”
Deebo Samuel is back with the 49ers — and at what looks to be an ideal incentive-laden price for them so that he can backfill the offense, possibly Pearsall-less, with a specialty weapon.
Remember Deebo can also be a needed return man weapon https://t.co/5RMVdRqJDa
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 31, 2026
The 49ers face a lot of great teams this year, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Philadelphia Eagles, plus the Seahawks and Rams. A lot of these games against great teams might come down to field position, which means having someone like Samuel could prove to be crucial.
There is no denying that Samuel was underwhelming last year for the Washington Commanders. Samuel had 727 yards and five touchdowns. While the numbers don’t make for terrible reading, there were loftier expectations for Samuel as part of Washington’s offense.
For his mediocre season, Samuel got a 77 grade and ranked 26th in PFSN’s Wide Receiver Impact Metric.
There is also no denying that Samuel was great for the 49ers and was a key factor in San Francisco making the Super Bowl in the 2019 and 2023 seasons. “Need to bring back the YAC glory days,” said one influencer on X. Samuel was great at this with the 49ers, proving to be dangerous to opposing defenses with the ball in his hands.
need to bring back the YAC glory days
— Ryan Paganetti (@RyanPaganetti) July 31, 2026
Overall, this is a good move by the 49ers to try to help their offense out. With training camp already underway, Samuel has time to acclimate, even if Kyle Shanahan won’t be around in the interim.
