With trade rumors involving San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel picking up steam as of late, the Washington Commanders pounced, landing an explosive new weapon for Jayden Daniels at an incredible price.
Deebo Samuel Helps Complete the Commanders’ Offense
Despite Terry McLaurin’s impressive 2024 season, the Commanders were in need of a legitimate weapon to take their offense to another level.
The Commanders are loading up man this offense is gonna be fun
Terry and Deebo is a nasty duo if Deebo can get healthy this off-season
— Luke Sawhook 🪚🪝 (@lukesawhook) March 1, 2025
Samuel is a versatile player that can be used both in the passing game and the running game. In 2021, his best season to date, he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards along with six receiving touchdowns along with 365 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
In 2023, Samuel caught 60 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 225 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Samuel’s production slowed down last season, as he recorded under 1,000 yards from scrimmage and only four total touchdowns. Yet, even in a down year, Samuel ranked second among WRs in average YAC, and he has never finished outside the top two among WRs in YAC per reception, an ability that will help make life easier for Daniels.
After Samuel’s disappointing 2024 season, the 49ers felt that he was failing to live up to his massive three-year, $71,550,000 contract, and his lack of statistical production, paired with growing injury concerns, led to the 49ers seeking a trade and creating more cap flexibility.
Despite the inevitability of the trade, many are shocked at how affordable Samuel was to acquire: The Commanders sent only a fifth-round draft pick to the 49ers in exchange for the veteran receiver.
In exchange for what now!? https://t.co/HDj0D0NalG
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 1, 2025
Samuel’s contract is a big reason why the 49ers were willing to part with him for a bargain-bin cost. The Commanders will be paying his full $17.55 million salary for the upcoming season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Washington is taking on the remainder of Deebo Samuel’s contract and paying his full $17.55 million salary for the 2025 season, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2025
Notably, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was discussed as a potential trade piece before the deal was ultimately completed without him included. The fact Allen was a potential trade option could imply he could be an eventual trade candidate or cap casualty if the Commanders want to help offset the cost of Samuel’s contract.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was part of the trade discussion between the #Commanders and #49ers this week as they executed the Deebo Samuel deal, per source. Ultimately, he was not included. Allen is due $16.4M this year, a possible hurdle.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 2, 2025
Commanders are Super Bowl Contenders Going Into 2025
In 2024, the Commanders took the league by storm. Coming off a 4-13 season and led by a new head coach and a rookie quarterback, nobody was expecting the organization to pull off a 180 so quickly, going 12-5 and making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game.
In 2025, no one will be overlooking the Commanders. Daniels is coming off of arguably the greatest rookie season of all time for a quarterback, one he finished with an impressive No. 7 ranking (85.3) and B grade in PFSN’s QB+ metric. The team gained valuable playoff experience and has a ton of money to spend this offseason with a chance to really improve the roster.
Trading for Samuel started the offseason transactions with a bang for Washington, who now boasts one of the league’s most potent receiver duos.
The Commanders adding Deebo to their offense pic.twitter.com/IYKtNVe1U7
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) March 1, 2025
Expectations will be sky-high in Washington, as they look to build on their magical 2024 season and attempt to cement themselves as a perennial playoff contender in the NFC going forward.