The Washington Commanders have one game remaining before attention turns to what promises to be an offseason of significant changes across the franchise. And for some players, it will be the final time fans get to see them in the famous burgundy and gold.
Adam Peters will have a good lay of the land by now. Whether the Commanders' perceptions will change in their last regular-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles is debatable, but several veterans have their futures hanging in the balance. And there are few with more at stake than wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr.
Samuel was a shrewd acquisition by Peters this offseason. The Commanders had to give up a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers to secure his services, and he's rewarded their faith with focus, consistency, and a relentless attitude that's hard not to love.
Commanders and Deebo Samuel could go their separate ways this offseason
The former South Carolina standout is still fighting. Samuel is in a contract year, so anything less wouldn't be smart. What the Commanders need to figure out is whether the All-Pro is worth keeping around at the money he'll likely demand.
Market projections for Samuel are in the $20 million-per-year range. Peters has a lot of money tied into Terry McLaurin, another receiver on the wrong side of 30. He could be reluctant to shell out another lucrative deal for an aging playmaker, especially considering how desperate Washington is to get younger across the board.
Much will depend on whether a compromise can be reached, but Samuel also knows that this is probably his final opportunity to get a big-money contract in his career. Given how Peters handled McLaurin's standoff throughout the summer, he is not going to overpay and jeopardize his ability to strengthen other areas.
That's what makes Samuel's situation so unpredictable heading into the regular-season finale at Lincoln Financial Field. He's taken a lot of punishment throughout his career, but joining Washington helped silence the growing number of doubters. Now, he'll be looking to cash in accordingly, and if the Commanders don't want to pay up, there should be suitable interest on the open market.
Most fans are hoping Samuel sticks around. At the same time, they also recognize the business side of things. Paying him comes with significant risk, and a dominant outing against the Eagles might not change all that much when push comes to shove.
Samuel has been the constant on offense amid the almost constant upheaval. That carries merit, but Peters won't be placing emotion into his thought process with anybody.
It's a precarious situation that could go either way. But don't be surprised if this weekend is Samuel's farewell to Washington.