Deebo Samuel joins Washington with expectations to serve as a true No. 2 wide receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. The Commanders traded a fifth-round pick to acquire Samuel, and early reports show encouraging chemistry between Samuel and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Offseason work has been positive, highlighting Samuel's playmaking and effort. Concerns persist after Samuel's 2024 season, when he totaled 51 catches for 670 yards while playing over 73% of San Francisco's offensive snaps in his appearances. Efficiency and success-rate metrics declined, and Samuel's reliance on yards-after-catch plus limited route-running raise questions about long-term effectiveness as he ages.
Everything has gone better than expected this summer. However, one NFL analyst questioned whether Samuel's down year in 2024 was the start of his career decline. The Commanders believe that Samuel still has a lot of good football left. Adam Peters only had to give up a fifth-round selection to find out for sure, and it didn't take long for the versatile weapon to develop an encouraging chemistry with quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels upon joining the organization.
[Deebo] Samuel is coming off a dreadful season, having recorded only 51 catches for 670 yards while playing over 73% of San Francisco's offensive snaps in the games he appeared in. He was extremely inefficient when targeted, ranking 135th among wide receivers in success rate. It's certainly possible that he's lost a step at 29 years old. If Samuel continues on this trajectory, he's unlikely to receive a lucrative contract that would set him up for significant playing time in 2026.
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