The Washington Commanders haven't brought back Deebo Samuel Sr. as yet. Not much has been said about whether the door is closed or not, but it seems as if both parties have gone their separate ways after just one season.
Samuel performed well in difficult circumstances last season. The Commanders got some bang for their buck after giving the San Francisco 49ers a fifth-round pick to secure his services, even if the team struggled to meet loftier expectations overall. But considering the money he is likely demanding on his next deal, general manager Adam Peters is right to explore alternatives.
It's somewhat surprising to see Samuel still sitting on the market. Maybe it's the financial aspect putting teams off. Perhaps they're waiting to see what happens during the draft before taking the plunge. The former South Carolina standout is biding his time, but one NFL analyst believes a homecoming to the Niners makes sense once the bust settles.
Deebo Samuel tipped for 49ers homecoming as Commanders explore alternatives
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports thought Samuel's presence could help take some pressure off Christian McCaffrey, who is still an exceptional performer but isn't getting any younger. There is plenty of familiarity between both sides, and the wideout proved last season that he's got some good football left in the tank.
"It would make all the sense in the world for [Deebo] Samuel to come back home to San Francisco. Bringing back Samuel to fill in for [Christian] McCaffrey on some of the checkdowns and screens in [Kyle] Shanahan's offense could maximize the former's skill set while preserving the latter for postseason football."
Samuel may welcome a return to San Francisco. The NFC West club signed Mike Evans and Christian Kirk this offseason. They didn't bring Jauan Jennings back, and the relationship with Brandon Aiyuk has completely soured. Much will depend on that draft, but this versatile contingency plan wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
San Francisco might be able to make the money work, too. They have $30.53 million in available salary-cap space with 75 players under contract. They have to sign their draft class, of course, but there could be some spare cash left over to acquire Samuel if some middle ground can be reached.
The Commanders may have moved on. Peters made some slight tweaks to the receiver room, signing Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson Jr. Aiyuk remains a hot name, and the draft is another possibility despite the limited resources at Peters' disposal. Those plans probably don't include Samuel, but it would be surprising if he were out of work for too long.
And if a homecoming to San Francisco comes into his lap, it represents a tempting proposition.