No immediate Deebo Samuel extension followed his Washington arrival, separating this trade of a 2019 second-round wideout from the trades involving D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown. Samuel will be assured of a nice 2025 payout, at least.
Samuel’s near-$17MM base salary will become fully guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds $3MM in incentives will be attached to this revised agreement. That said, not too much has changed here; that may be more notable than any updated guarantee.
Metcalf agreed to a four-year, $128MM extension upon being traded to Pittsburgh. The ex-Seahawk joined Samuel in entering the NFL in the ’19 second round, and while Metcalf does not have a first-team All-Pro honor on his resume like the ex-49er does, he has been a more consistent player since each signed second contracts during 2022 training camp. Samuel saw injuries and modest performances ding his trade value, making the Commanders’ add more of a flier. Trade cost also separated this swap from the Steelers-Seahawks exchange, as Seattle obtained a second-round pick for Metcalf.
Samuel, 28, receiving guarantees early is not especially notable; as a vested veteran, he would have secured them shortly before Week 1. Remaining in a contract year, however, is key here. The Commanders may well look to evaluate their trade acquisition’s fit alongside Terry McLaurin, who joins Metcalf in having a more consistent career. Samuel’s best work has bettered both, but it has been a while since the versatile playmaker has made top-flight contributions.
Accumulating 1,770 scrimmage yards in 2021, Samuel powered the 49ers’ passing attack during Jimmy Garoppolo‘s final full season as the team’s starter. Samuel did improve on his 2022 dud with a 12-touchdown 1,117-yard 2023, but he struggled again in 2024. The 49ers moved on from Samuel after the near-$24MM-AAV player totaled just 670 receiving yards last year. The Commanders providing an extension now would not exactly be called for, given the South Carolina alum’s unreliability and potential durability concerns.
Still, Washington has secured what should be a substantial WR2 upgrade after being unable to provide McLaurin with a quality complementary option throughout the former third-rounder’s run. Samuel will give Jayden Daniels an interesting inside option, and the presence of Austin Ekeler may ensure not many handoffs go on Samuel’s odometer (202 career carries) this season. For now, though, the Commanders will wait and see on their trade asset’s post-2025 future.
Goodwill offer to guarantee his money to help with resigning in the offseason or right after the season ends.
They have zero intentions of resigning him. They already deleted his agents number.
Glorified prove it deal aka Odell with ravens
Agreed. I think that Samuel still has good value, but it’s pretty unlikely that we see his dynamism match his 2021 form again. Shanahan has a way of running guys down with use, and Samuel put an absolute imperial ton of wear on his treads that year. Unfortunately we could see how that would shorten his career, but he’s still a dangerous weapon underneath and a good RAC receiver. I doubt that Washington is going to use him to bolster their run game the way that Shanahan did, so Samuel could potentially have enough value to see a re-signing if he has a good year.
Well maybe he does less run plays and more route running. Also with the cap and money commanders have to spend plus an extraordinary young QB on rookie deal this is basically a medium risk medium reward type deal. McLaurin will stay the WR workhorse and maybe they draft another guy and see what they have in McCaffreys sophomore year too. Plus veteran Ertz is back at TE