(Image via totalprosports.com)
Staff Writer: Aidan Danforth
Email: adanforth@umassd.edu
After the Super Bowl, the NFL takes about a month long slumber and is featured less in the media. but the NFL has now reawakened with free agency. It is set to begin soon along with the first trade of the offseason.
The San Francisco 49ers are trading veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a fifth round pick. Samuel’s decreased production in 2024 as well as the Niners salary cap ultimately forced them to move on from him.
Like any trade, there are two sides to this deal. Here’s a look at what each side gets as part of this deal and how it will impact their team.
Commanders Get a Dual Threat Playmaker for Daniels
This move immediately provides a much needed number two option for rookie Quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels had an unbelievable rookie year, but he lacked many elite receivers outside of Terry McLaurin.
Deebo Samuel will add explosiveness to the Commanders’ offense with his ability to line up as a wide receiver alongside McLaurin. This will force defense to focus on more than one target, giving Daniel’s more options.
Not only is Samuel a good pass catcher, but he can also line up as a running back. Back in 2021, Deebo rushed for 365 yards and 8 touchdowns. He’s seen a decline in production mainly due to injuries and the arrival of Christian McCaffrey.
The Commanders had a good but inconsistent running game in 2024. Brian Robinson played well but missed time due to an injury. Austin Ekeler had his moments as a pass catcher. The backfield also included Chris Rodriquez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols who each saw playing time.
Deebo can improve their running game thanks to his dual threat ability. The 49ers have used him less in their running scheme, but perhaps the Commanders can get the best out of Samuel’s running ability.
The only glaring issue with Samuel is his age. He is 29, coming off his most disappointing season yet. He appeared in 15 games, caught 61 receptions for 670 yards, and had three touchdowns.
To be fair, the entire 49ers team collapsed a year after their Super Bowl appearance. Players were getting injured, Brock Purdy took a step back, and both sides of the ball turned into a disaster.
While Deebo’s decline in production isn’t entirely his fault, fans who watch his highlights can tell his age is starting to catch up to him. A change of scenery is what Deebo might need in order to get back to that all-pro level.
It can definitely happen with a young star quarterback like Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingbury, who have totally transformed the Commanders offense.
49ers Get Something for Someone Who Wanted Out
A fifth round pick isn’t much for one of the 49ers’s premiere playmakers, but at least they got something.
If San Francisco didn’t find a trade partner for Deebo, they would’ve released him and got nothing in return.
This move saves the 49ers 15.6 million in cap space while being forced to take a dead cap hit of 31.02 million.
On paper, an offense consisting of Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Trent Williams sounds elite. However, Deebo’s departure leaves the 49ers in need of a massive breakout at the receiver position.
During the 2024 offseason, Brandon Aiyuk signed a 4-year 120-million-dollar extension. He is likely the next man up. But his production might have to wait since he’s coming off of a season where he suffered a torn ACL and MCL.
There is also Jauan Jennings who nearly recorded a 1,000 yard season and stood out as a bright spot on a lackluster offense.
The other candidate is second-year receiver Ricky Pearshall. After being shot while witnessing a robbery, Pearshall missed the first 6 games of the 2024 season. When he took the field, he saw some success with a few elite performances.
It is now up to him to take the next leap and become the 49ers next big playmaker alongside Aiyuk, Jennings, and the rest of the offense.
All the 49ers can really hope for is for the team to stay healthy and not have a repeat of what happened last year. Deebo is a tough loss for their offense. But perhaps Purdy, McCaffrey, Kittle, and the rest of the team can bring the 49ers back to elite status so that they can make the best out of their closing title window.
On the other hand, the Commanders are only just opening their title window. They shocked the world by making the NFC championship game during Daniel’s rookie season. They are only set to get better with the addition of Deebo and plenty of salary cap to make moves in free agency.
For the time being, the Commanders got the better side of the deal with only giving up a day three pick for a good playmaker. The 49ers also may benefit from this deal with a new offense.
The NFL offseason has only just begun, and this is already one of the many moves between franchises that is expected to shake the NFL landscape.