There is a potent mix of talent on the Washington Commanders in 2025 — a group of ballers like the metroplex hasn’t seen since before former owner Daniel Snyder bought the team in 1999.
The Commanders came one win away from playing in the Super Bowl in 2024 and have made moves in the offseason to solidify their status as contenders in 2025, including finally adding an elite edge rusher by signing former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller on July 16.
Out of all of those moves, the one that might end up being the most critical of all could be a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for NFL All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who came to the Commanders in exchange for a 2025 fifth round pick on March 1.
After the Commanders renegotiated Samuel’s contract to a 1-year, $17 million deal, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton thinks he’s one of a handful of NFL players under the “Most Pressure” to perform for their teams in 2025.
It’s been 3 seasons since Samuel’s lone All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 2021, when he had 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. After the 2024 season, Samuel will have $81.7 million in career earnings.
“In Washington, Samuel can again show off his unique playmaking ability at an optimal level,” Moton wrote on July 16. “As a wide receiver who took handoffs out of the 49ers’ backfield, he called himself a ‘wideback.’ Even if the Commanders mend their contractual differences with (Terry) McLaurin, Samuel must be a reliable complementary option in the aerial attack.”
Samuel Might Have Best Years Behind Him
Samuel’s 806 yards from scrimmage and 4 touchdowns in 15 games last season were his worst totals since he only played 7 games in 2020.
Samuel’s high-volume usage during 6 seasons with the 49ers — and the fact he appeared to be quite a bit overweight in 2024 — are things the Commanders have to deal with and hope Samuel is back to his old self.
Not everyone is sold on that happening. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons pointed out that Samuel might not have much left in the tank.
“San Francisco was like ‘yeah, we’re good, take him,’ ” Simmons said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on March 4. “That dude’s body’s been through a lot … I watch football every week. Deebo took a (expletive) ton of hits. The way they used him, he was like a crash test dummy. And I just wonder if (the 49ers) were like, ‘I think we took this as far as we can go.’ Like if it starts to dip, it could be on somebody else’s team.”
Not Much WR Depth Behind McLaurin and Samuel
If Samuel is back to his old self, it’s not outside the realm of possibility the Commanders could win games with either just he or McLaurin performing at a high level. Second year quarterback Jayden Daniels made it work in 2024 with just McLaurin playing at an elite level.
With NFL All-Pro Terry McLaurin in the middle of contentious contract negotiations with the Commanders, there’s a chance it could just be Samuel to start the season — along with a group of middling wide receivers like Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey and rookie Jaylin Lane that don’t inspire much confidence.
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