Hiring prolific former wide receiver Wes Welker was a shrewd move by the Washington Commanders. And there is one reason above all else behind the move.
Welker joins the Commanders as a personnel analyst. He'll be working with the analysis team and the coaching staff. This is another proven developer of talent and gifted evaluator joining an already formidable staff team. The benefits are potentially vast, and he's well connected with people inside the building already to smooth his transition.
The two-time All-Pro was Kliff Kingsbury's college teammate at Texas Tech. He knows general manager Adam Peters from their time together on the San Francisco 49ers. This is also where he played a leading role in helping Deebo Samuel Sr. go from a promising draft prospect to one of the league's most dynamic playmakers.
Samuel was acquired via trade from the Niners this offseason. The Commanders only gave up a fifth-round pick, but there are concerns after the South Carolina graduate went through a down year and became disillusioned last time around.
49ers insider tips Wes Welker to help Deebo Samuel thrive with Commanders
Adding Welker gives the Commanders a tremendous chance of making this transaction go smoothly. Jennifer Lee Chan from NBC Sports discussed the matter at length with colleague JP Finlay on his All Ears podcast, which centered on keeping standards high and ensuring Samuel brings a professional attitude at all times.
"Wes Welker absolutely got the best out of him. Deebo Samuel is a guy who isn't always super consistent, but Wes Welker is professional. Deebo Samuel was a guy who'd maybe come into training camp a little bit heavier. Will Muschamp, his coach at South Carolina, warned Kyle Shanahan about that, and I think the reason why Deebo Samuel had those three great first seasons is because Wes Welker was on him about being a professional, and how to show up to work every day. It's the best-case scenario, not only for the Washington Commanders but for Deebo Samuel and Wes Welker."Jennifer Lee Chan
Great insight from @jenniferleechan on the impact Wes Welker can make in Washington working with Deebo Samuel pic.twitter.com/JNJG6mbsnF
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 10, 2025
Samuel is older and more experienced than when he worked with Welker previously. However, there is an already developed relationship and mutual respect between the two. That's a strong platform from which to build, and the wideout has plenty of incentive to perform well entering the final year of his deal.
If Welker believes certain expectations aren't being met, he knows how to coax more out of Samuel. Peters saw this first-hand in San Francisco. He also saw how beneficial this became as the Niners propelled themselves into perennial contention.
This is only going to help. It's a sign that the Commanders are leaving absolutely nothing to chance in pursuit of another deep postseason run in 2025. If Welker's presence can keep Samuel motivated, the better their chances will be.
It won't be Welker's only responsibility. He's projected to have a big impact on Luke McCaffrey's development and will play a key role in assessing other areas of the squad. But his primary objective will be to make sure Samuel is ready to hit the ground running and retain optimism and fitness levels throughout the campaign.
If he accomplishes this feat and Samuel responds well to a familiar face steering him on the right path, the sky's the limit.