Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR
Deebo Samuel Sr.'s arrival via trade from the San Francisco 49ers could be a masterstroke or fail miserably. There is probably no in-between, but the versatile wide receiver looks like a player reborn over organized team activities.
Samuel looks a lot leaner. He's refocused and ready to help this franchise go on another deep postseason run in 2025. The former second-round pick is slotting in well, developing chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels, and putting in the hard work needed to become a genuine asset to Kliff Kingsbury's offense.
That's not all. Samuel is also going above and beyond the call of duty to help others. This was something he wasn't known for during his prolific stint in San Francisco, but it's a sign of his emerging leadership and buying into the Washington Commanders' mentality across the roster.
Samuel's been spotted doing extra after practice. He spent time working with second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil, helping with his technique and what receivers are thinking when it comes to early releases off the line of scrimmage. Iron sharpens iron, and young players would be wise to seek his counsel at every opportunity.
Washington Commanders post practice work:
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) June 4, 2025
WR Deebo Samuel and CB Mike Sainristil pic.twitter.com/PVW9EnMlwP
The Niners might have given up on Samuel, but Adam Peters thought he had plenty of good football left. There's a long way to go, but he's off to a tremendous start.
Quan Martin - Commanders S
The Commanders believe they have something special on their hands in third-year safety Quan Martin. His production last season took a major step forward after some early jitters. This is even more impressive when one considers he was dealing with two separated shoulders.
Martin fought through the pain to help his team. That's a testament to his competitive demeanor and team-first mindset. But with a full offseason to heal, a genuine breakout campaign looks well within his capabilities in 2025.
It's early days, but Martin is already drawing rave reviews.
Joe Whitt Jr. is holding Martin to the same standard as the league's best safeties moving forward. The defensive coordinator believes he has the talent; it's all about maintaining these heights and growing the former second-round pick into a dominant figure on the backend.
The Commanders let Jeremy Chinn walk this offseason. That means Whitt needs even more from Martin. And based on the Illinois graduate's output throughout Washington's organized team activities, he's ready to take another surge forward.
Martin cannot do it alone. Will Harris needs to perform well, and the Commanders must get more from their depth pieces. But the safety room will only go as far as the top dog takes them.