Deebo Samuel Sr. played well in difficult circumstances last season. The Washington Commanders got solid production from the veteran wide receiver, but the team overall struggled to meet the lofty targets they set for themselves.
However, it was not enough to convince one team insider of the prospect of Samuel returning.
Samuel remains on the free-agent market, waiting for the right opportunity to come along. That will arrive at some stage, but nobody has taken the plunge as yet. Money could be a factor, and teams will want to see what they can get their hands on during the 2026 NFL Draft before deciding on further action.
Washington does need receiver help. They signed Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson Jr., but that won't be enough. Brandon Aiyuk could help once he is eventually released by the San Francisco 49ers. General manager Adam Peters will also scour the draft for a long-term solution if the right opportunity presents itself.
Commanders insider doesn't think re-signing Deebo Samuel Sr. makes sense
Ben Standig, who covers the team independently, made his feelings about bringing Samuel back crystal clear. While he acknowledged the questions around their current slot options — Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane — he thought the money it would probably take to re-sign the former South Carolina standout should be better spent elsewhere.
"That's the only reason why I have the door open for Deebo [Samuel] at all. It's the unknowns about these guys in the slot. Other than that, I am out on Deebo. Whatever money they would spend to bring him in, put it towards a center or something else."
Samuel was projected by Spotrac to get around $15 million per season on his next deal. That doesn't seem likely at this stage of the offseason, but the player may not mind taking a little less to land on a playoff contender. The Commanders represented that last year, but that may no longer be the case.
The Commanders still have a lot of cap space to utilize, and they would be wise to spend every penny as pressure rises. Whether those plans are a little later down the line is debatable, but it does seem unlikely.
If Aiyuk and another draft pick join the club, that might be enough. Samuel could be a fallback if the Commanders aren't satisfied with the other options. But once the draft concludes, the one-time All-Pro is unlikely to be on the market for much longer.
Samuel proved last season that he's still got a lot of good football left. Someone will recognize that eventually, but that might not be Washington.