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Deebo Samuel dealt to the Washington Commanders [View all]
For a fifth-round draft pick! Because he's in decline and he's only guaranteed to remain on contract for one year. Here's hoping it's at least a healthy year.
Samuel's production has declined in recent years. And after posting an absurd 1,405 receiving yards on 3.1 yards per route run (along with 365 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns) in 2021, he hasn't approached those numbers. He's coming off a poor 2024 in which he recorded only 670 receiving yards on 1.8 yards per route run. It's not unreasonable to wonder if we will see Samuel, 29, come close to his peak again...
Samuel appears to be a nice fit in Washington's offense; he provides another threat close to the line of scrimmage and can complement Daniels' running prowess. Washington's 4.6 expected YAC per reception last season wasn't amazing, but it was better than the 49ers' 4.3 (sixth worst). And 11% of Washington's wide receiver targets came on screens (third highest). You'd expect more next season with Samuel surely receiving many.
On the other hand, if the Commanders enter the season with Samuel as their No. 2 wide receiver, that would be a weakness -- and I would think less of this deal. I'll grade under the assumption that the Commanders jumped at this opportunity with the intention to add another solid receiver later in the offseason (either in free agency or early in the draft). Many potential veterans could be available via trade or free agency, such as Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, Davante Adams (assuming he's cut), Cooper Kupp and Stefon Diggs. But some of those players are far from guaranteed to hit the market and none is perfect.
That leads to a big question: Isn't $17.6 million and a fifth-round pick for a one-year rental of a No. 3 wide receiver a lot to pay? You bet. But the circumstances dictate the Commanders' aggression to add playmakers, and Samuel provides offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury the ability to add wrinkles to what was already a successful offense in 2024.
Samuel appears to be a nice fit in Washington's offense; he provides another threat close to the line of scrimmage and can complement Daniels' running prowess. Washington's 4.6 expected YAC per reception last season wasn't amazing, but it was better than the 49ers' 4.3 (sixth worst). And 11% of Washington's wide receiver targets came on screens (third highest). You'd expect more next season with Samuel surely receiving many.
On the other hand, if the Commanders enter the season with Samuel as their No. 2 wide receiver, that would be a weakness -- and I would think less of this deal. I'll grade under the assumption that the Commanders jumped at this opportunity with the intention to add another solid receiver later in the offseason (either in free agency or early in the draft). Many potential veterans could be available via trade or free agency, such as Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, Davante Adams (assuming he's cut), Cooper Kupp and Stefon Diggs. But some of those players are far from guaranteed to hit the market and none is perfect.
That leads to a big question: Isn't $17.6 million and a fifth-round pick for a one-year rental of a No. 3 wide receiver a lot to pay? You bet. But the circumstances dictate the Commanders' aggression to add playmakers, and Samuel provides offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury the ability to add wrinkles to what was already a successful offense in 2024.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/43957885/2025-nfl-free-agency-grades-signings-trades-latest-best-worst-deals-draft-outlook
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