When the Washington Commanders kicked off their aggressive offseason by trading for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., those associated with the San Francisco 49ers were sad to see him go.
He was seen as a locker room distraction past the peak of his powers, with poor conditioning and an even worse attitude. Adam Peters didn't listen to the naysayers, and it only cost him a fifth-round selection to find out for sure. Samuel heard it, too, and the versatile weapon came into the building with renewed purpose.
Things haven't gone that well for the Commanders this season, but Samuel has emerged as a legitimate bright spot. He's stayed relatively healthy, made plays consistently, and emerged as a strong locker-room leader. This was not the player San Francisco fans warned about, and there is one more objective to achieve to prove they were wrong.
Deebo Samuel has new Commanders deal in his sights with a strong end to 2025
John Keim from ESPN thought Samuel could be Washington's biggest X-factor over the final five games of 2025. If the former South Carolina standout accomplishes this feat, there could be a new contract waiting for him when the campaign concludes.
"[Deebo] Samuel leads the team with 58 catches for 534 yards and five touchdowns. He's on pace to top his career high of 77 catches from 2021. Washington needs to upgrade its receivers with more explosiveness, which Samuel has improved. But he could be an interesting free agent target for other teams. [Terry] McLaurin will earn $18.35 million in 2026, leaving Washington with at least $90 million in cap space, so it can afford another expensive signing at receiver. But any deal for Samuel must make sense. "John Keim
Much will depend on the money involved, but there is a chance something can be worked out between the player and Washington. Samuel stayed the course, made things happen when called upon, and even adjusted well after moving to the lead man amid the team's injury problems. That won't go unnoticed when contract negotiations begin.
It could still go either way for Samuel. He's not getting any younger, but the fact that he is in strong contention for a new deal proves beyond all doubt that this trade was a risk worth taking. Peters will weigh up the pros and cons. Whatever decision he makes, it will be in the Commanders' best interests.
The Niners are doing just fine without Samuel. But after slandering his work ethic, fitness levels, and performance regression, San Francisco's fan base should be eating a big slice of humble pie for their lapse in judgment.