The 49ers finally found a trade partner with whom they came to an agreement on terms to trade star wide receiver Deebo Samuel. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Commanders will acquire the versatile offensive veteran for draft compensation. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the trade compensation as a fifth-round pick. Schefter adds that the trade will not be processed until the start of the new league year on March 12. 
A report from yesterday named the Texans and Commanders as the teams which were making the strongest pushes to acquire Samuel. In short order, a deal has been reached which will send the former All-Pro to the nation’s capital. Washington had recently been linked to the pursuit of a receiver capable of complementing Terry McLaurin, and if healthy Samuel will be able to fit the bill.
The 29-year-old spent spent his first six years with San Francisco, serving as a key figure on offense and establishing himself as a unique skill-position weapon. Samuel’s most productive season by far came in 2021, when he racked up over 1,400 receiving yards and led the NFL in yards per catch (18.2). The former second-rounder also scored eight rushing touchdowns while succeeding in his ‘wide back’ role.
The 2022 offseason was defined in large part for the 49ers by the protracted negotiating process on a Samuel extension (something the team has become increasingly familiar with). The South Carolina product requested a trade at one point, but a three-year, $71.55MM agreement was ultimately worked out. One year remains on the deal, and Schefter notes the Commanders are taking on the full amount of the outstanding compensation.
As a result, Washington will pay Samuel roughly $17.55MM in 2025 barring an extension or restructure being worked out upon arrival. Given his injury troubles and decline production since signing his deal, this will be a critical campaign for the one-time Pro Bowler. On the 49ers’ end, this transaction will save $15.68MM on the team’s cap but generate $31.55MM in dead money.
In spite of that financial impact, this move comes as no surprise from San Francisco’s perspective. Samuel was the subject of trade talk at the draft last spring, and the 49ers’ monster extension for Brandon Aiyuk (and, to a much lesser extent, their new deal for Jauan Jennings) represented commitments to other wideouts for the post-2024 future. Once Ricky Pearsall was added in the first round of the draft, expectations increased that Samuel would be on the move after this past season. General manager John Lynch recently confirmed the 49ers would honor Samuel’s most recent trade request.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters previously worked in the 49ers’ front office, a factor which helps explain how he and Lynch managed to work out a trade well in advance of free agency. Anthony Lynn – who joined the Commanders’ coaching staff under Dan Quinn last offseason – has also worked with Samuel in San Francisco, so he represents another familiar face. If all goes according to plan, this trade could result in a long-term partnership between team and player via a new contract.
Washington traded away former first-rounder Jahan Dotson shortly into the beginning of the Peters-Quinn regime, something which left team short on WR2 options. Veteran Noah Brown played a notable role on offense before being lost to injury, and he has expressed a desire to re-sign with the Commanders. It will be interesting to see how the team’s in-house plans at the receiver position change in the wake of the Samuel acquisition.
As for the 49ers, their passing attack will continue to be centered on Aiyuk (presuming, of course, the latest round of trade interest in his case his rebuffed), Jennings, Pearsall and extension candidate George Kittle. Talks with the latter, along with quarterback Brock Purdy, have begun. Working out a long-term extension which will keep Purdy in place represents the top priority for the 49ers, but the offense he will be at the helm of in 2025 and likely beyond will not include Samuel.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Damn that seems cheap ♂️
For an aging wr always hurt every year????? Nah. Not really
Not to mention a real prima dona
I’m not sure why people are trying to paint Deebo as always hurt when he has played at least 15 games in three out of the last four seasons. That’s relatively durable at a position that sees as much contact as it does.
Actually would rather have Deebo over Aiyuk tbh. Aiyuk was pretty horrible last year.
“At a position that sees as much contact as it does”? Really?!? WRs are way down on the list of hard contact, you’re only getting hit on caught balls, and on the plays you don’t step out of bounds, and the players tackling you are often the softest don’t want physical contact type CBs.
For the WR position in general, you make a good point. But Deebo is far from your traditional WR. OP should have been more accurate to state, “for a player like Deebo who sees as much contact as he does”
now do how many games he was around at the end of regulation
Because when you look up those numbers it doesn’t account for the amount of games that he left in the middle of because of injuries.
The last 2 seasons there were several times that he got hurt in the 1st or 2nd quarter and “still started” so it doesn’t show.
But that also has to do with the fact that Shanahan seemed determined to use him as a runningback. And not just that, but it got to the point where EVERY time he was in the backfield you could guarantee he was going to get the ball so defenses just started stacking the box and teeing off on him.
I have to feel like if he was used in a traditional WR (or even hybrid TE) role he would fare a lot better injury-wise
” EVERY time he was in the backfield you could guarantee he was going to get the ball so defenses just started stacking the box and teeing off on him.”
That just isn’t true. They ran Play actions with him all the time. They also ran fake jet sweep play actions plenty with him.
And god forbid Shanny wanted him to do the things he was good at on the field.
If he was a better route runner who could get open in the field, maybe they wouldn’t have had him line up in the back field or be used running.
Your last point is wrong because he was used more as a traditional WR and he started getting leg injuries.
So as a RB hybrid it was his shoulder and chest, then as just a WR it was his hamstring and ankle.
lol good points on everything. Can’t really argue with you
Strictly a salary dump for the Niners. Nice weapon for Daniels.
If healthy
Everyone will say it’s on overpay for him….but he’s super talented, not sure the hate against Deebo. Would’ve loved the Falcons to snag him
Talented just seems to be fragile and somewhat a complainer
Fragile and willing to take a hit are separate things
Willing to take a hit and leaving games in the first quarter and complaining about kit getting the ball after you sit down hurt the rest of the game isn’t a good look.
Not fragile at all. He runs through most tackle attempts. Maybe check out his highlights?
He’s been bad since signing his deal. Dropped as many passes as he has TDs
Dropping as many passes as he has TDs isnt a bad stat. Either he doesnt have many TDs which means not very many dropped passes or if he drops a lot of passes means he has a lot of TDs. Pretty good stat actually.
People tend to hate players when they act like jerks. He was always getting hurt and never putting the blame for his lack of production on himself.
He complained about a lack of targets when he was right in line with every other year, but refusing to run the ball. His drop rate was at almost 8%. He wasn’t getting separation do to being much slower, because he showed up to camp and spent the season 20lbs over weight.
When you point all over the place to blame others instead of taking responsibility for your own faults, people are going to hate on you.
looks like the salary relief is the big get for a cap-strapped team like the 9ers. That money is better invested elsewhere.
They have 50 mill in cap space
It’s not a real $50 million. Basically going to be used on Purdy and Kittle. They have already said they want to get younger and cheaper.
Kittle’s extension will create even more cap space and Purdy’s cap hit this year will probably be around 10 million. A lot of people are going to jaw drop when those two sign and the Niners are still over 50 million in cap space.
That isn’t how salary caps hits work. Hurt “makes 51M” this year, but his cap hit will be only 21M. Prudy will be the same thing. The cap number will start lower and get larger as it goes along. By the time it gets really big, they will extend him again and the hit will go down.
Kittle’s hit will be 22M, but they will extend him and it will drop back down to like 8M again like it was a few years ago.
Might surprise people, but after their moves, they will probably end up with more cap space.
This move would be great a few years ago.
Aiyuk just fell to his knees in tears lol
Due to tears in his knees
Nicely done Yo…
Ha! Nice
Surprised they got something better than a pick swap
I wouldn’t be champing at the bit to acquire Samuel at this stage, but he’s still a good player, even if his injuries after all those rushing attempts are worrisome. Curious to see how he fits.
Meanwhile a fifth is better for SF than having to just cut him. They were due to make some tough choices.
Proper use of the word “champing”. Bravo!
He might not be the most reliable and entering a decline but it’s hard not to take that risk as Washington for only a 5th round pick.
Doubt Washington is done adding wrs.
Definitely think Deebo balls out this year. It’s a contract year. Definitely think that is in the back of his mind and will probably have one of the better seasons of his career cause of it. Plus I think Deebo will benefit from Daniels ability to extend plays and move outside the pocket and make some big plays out of broken plays this year.
So he can drop most of the passes hiscway. Lol. Deebo is finished and that’s why nobody really wanted him. Including tge 49ers.
Or, 49ers needed to create some financial wiggle room to sign some free agents to make one last push while Purdy is on his rookie deal before they need to give him an extension.
Lmao. Deebo had 6 drops last year. Wasn’t even top 20 in drops.
Main issue is his health getting dinged during games and coming out. Year before free agency Deebo probably fights thru those minor things he didn’t before. Guys usually do.
They are giving Purdy the extension this year. So clearing space to pay current roster.
A fifth round pick, perfect. That’s the niners sweet spot
Yeah, it’s those 3rd overall picks they fail miserably at…
LMAO
I really don’t understand the Dead Money part. One year left on a 3/71 contract, 17 taken on by the Football Team, and SF has 31 left of Dead Money?
9ers asked him to restructure in prior seasons. That money was kicked down the road so now that he is no longer on team it now all hits..
its all void money.
link to spotrac.com
Great fit for sure imo
I’m assuming people’s first thought is how he complements McLaurin but I’m think about how he complements Austin Ekeler. Good luck to any D trying to get off the field in a 3rd and 5 or less situation against Washington
Yup and they can keep building around this with their massive cap. I say pursue Myles Garrett next
This was a mistake. Commanders fans need to settle down. Acting like they’ve done something after one lucky year. Get ready for your version of this years Texans. Quinn has a long history of quick improvement followed by steadily getting worse afterwards.
Lol. A little over confident there little fella.
I knew Washington would do this and I love it. They seriously think they’re just like a player or 2 away from a superbowl and this roster has a mountain of issues. Trading away picks for aging players who also happen to be locker room cancer, not smart at all. They’re gonna totally waste JD’s rookie contract haha
Picks? You’ve proven to be irrelevant.
When you’re the 6th oldest roster in the league and it takes you over a decade to find your QB, you need to do it right. Buying an old roster acting like you’re one or 2 players short of a superbowl is how you ruin your rookie contract for your QB. they should take a page out of what the Bills and McDermott did their first year. They overachieved in year one and didn’t act dumb about it. They knew their roster needed a lot of work and they stayed the course. Year 2 they did not make the playoffs but they got better and now you see they’re consistently good. Washington is acting like they’re the Lions right now, and just need one or 2 more pieces which is not even close to reality. Getting older when you have a rookie QB and many holes in the roster is not smart at all. They need to use all their picks on building a serious core that can be together and compete for a while. Especially when the best team in the NFC is in your division (the Eagles also have the 6th youngest roster in the league)
Let’s also not forget that Jayden Daniels is very old for a rookie. He’s 1 year younger than Hurts with 4 years less experience in the NFL. He was drafted 4 years older than Lamar and Josh Allen were when they were drafted. See how long it’s taking them to get their shot at superbowls? Anyone remember how good everyone thought Beckham would be in Baltimore just to be old and washed? He was the exact same age when he tried to go to Baltimore as Deebo is now. Washington’s being naive about how close they really are and they’re going to make this process longer cuz of it. If JD gets to a superbowl at a similar pace of Lamar and Josh (yes I know they haven’t done it yet, but have been in the league 6 years and are still in their 20’s) JD will be age 32 when he’s been in the league that long. Washington is the definition of a smoke screen.
Hurts will be 27 this season before Daniels turns 25. So he’s actually more than two years younger than Hurts. Also Bo Nix and Michaels Pennix who are in his rookie class at same position are both older (Nix a full year older) and Caleb Williams is less than a year younger. How is Daniels very old for a rookie? He was drafted at 23.4 years old and the average age of his draft class was 23.34. So he less than 1 month older than the average rookie.
Also, Josh Allen played 4 years off college and was 1 month from his 22nd birthday when drafted and Daniels was 23. He was exactly 1.5 years older than Allen. Where are you pulling your info from?
@slund24
It is clear that KC33 is either a bot, troll, or seriously uninformed. Pay him no mind.
That being said he’s right that Washington is more than 1 player away.
I guess don’t take Shaduer Sanders in the draft either since he’s only a little over a month younger than Daniels was when drafted so he must be VERY old for a rookie too. Not sure what this dude is talking about with the age thing, he obviously googled him and was off on age by at least a few years saying he’ll be 32 in his 6th year when he’d actually be 28 for almost the entire season in his 6th year.
Massive overpay
A fifth round pick and only taking on a one year salary? Seems like a good risk to take.
Sarcasm
Peters just made his first big mistake. Deebo has been bad and hurt since his deal. Also has become a leading WR in drops the last two years. That’s why there hasn’t been a big market for him. Peter’s letting getting a guy he drafted be more important than the fact he isn’t even a good number two now. And at a big cost.
Wonderful now he can put their long snapper in a friendly chokehold
I’m not sure how NOT.2 feels about trade…lol.
His troll game needs some work.
Its a one year wait and see deal.
Washington isn’t picking up much and its will be structured in option payouts – I think the next two years.
Well worth a fifth.
I wouldn’t be upset had the Bills tried it out.
This is a good trade for Washington. Its only upside. If it doesn’t work out – move on easily with a small cap hit in the next two years and loss of a fifth.
This did have bills on it. I think bills draft first round WR almost definitely.
No risk on contract length or the draft pick. If he doesn’t cut it on the field or becomes a distraction, Wash moves on.
Is Aiyuk going to be healthy to start the season?
Yes. He’s about to break out this year. He’s ready to be legit wr1 on a 500 team. lol
to give you an honest and a none smartass answer, there isn’t an answer…. yet. John Lynch said Aiyuk is due for another test soon and its the test that gives them a timeline on readiness. He has been healing at a quicker rate than usual so that’s a good sign.
paulk – Would the 49ers still consider moving Aiyuk?
31m+ in dead money is insane from a 3 year deal when another team is paying for the third year. Terrible cap management.
Thats the void money for the next 4 seasons.
SF shows Deebo DEEDOOR !!
Smart move. But held onto him a little too long. Called this like everyone else. But Brandon played a perfect hand in SF. Leading to immediate dismissal of Debo. This move makes SF stronger and gives Debo redemption on a team fit for playoff action. Maybe this trade will light a fire. A fire that would never have lit in sf.
Trade looks like a win-win to me. Washington fills a need without giving up much. 49ers shed some salary and move towards getting younger. Pearsall should be poised to have a breakout season.
If Deebo Samuel plays well on his contract year in DC, there will be some kind of draft compensation coming back on his next contract. Give up a 5th rounder, get back a 4th rounder for a one year rental. And Kliff Kingsbury’s offense certainly needs this kind of weapon.
Moderate risk, moderate reward trade. Could end up with an injured Deebo Samuel and nothing for the 5th rounder and the $17.5 million. Could end up with a pro bowl player and draft compensation.
Not a bad risk for an excellent potential reward.