Deebo Samuel Trade: 49ers Deal Star Wide Receiver to Commanders

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The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to send standout wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday night. Like any trade agreed to now, this deal cannot be processed until the new league year begins March 12. As part of the deal, Washington is taking on the remainder of Samuel's contract and paying his full $17.55 million salary for the 2025 season, sources told Schefter.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was part of the trade discussion between the Commanders and 49ers this week as they executed the Samuel deal, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler later Saturday. Ultimately, Allen, who is due $16.4 million, was not included. For the Commanders, they've added another weapon for quarterback Jayden Daniels, trading for a former All-Pro receiver. The move ended an often productive but at times tumultuous six-year run for Samuel with San Francisco. San Francisco will absorb a $31,550,012 dead money hit on this year's salary cap. Samuel, who has one year remaining on his contract, will count $17.5 million on Washington's salary cap.

Originally selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft, Samuel instantly became a favorite of coach Kyle Shanahan, who maximized Samuel's versatile skill set by lining him up all over the field and getting him the ball in a variety of ways. In his first six years, Samuel has 4,792 yards receiving and 1,143 yards rushing. In the past four years, he's rushed for 958 yards and 17 touchdowns while catching 244 passes for 3,599 yards and 18 touchdowns. He had a dominant 2021 season, nearly carrying the 49ers' offense to the Super Bowl. He had 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns before the Niners came up short in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. The following are some of his key statistics:

• 4,792 yards receiving
• 1,143 yards rushing
• 958 yards rushing in the past four years
• 17 touchdowns rushing in the past four years
• 244 passes caught in the past four years
• 3,599 yards receiving in the past four years
• 18 touchdowns receiving in the past four years

Samuel joins a team that is aware of his talent. Commanders general manager Adam Peters was an assistant general manager in San Francisco when the team drafted Samuel. Peters left the organization after last season to join Washington. Also, Commanders run game coordinator Anthony Lynn was 49ers' assistant head coach/running backs in 2022-23. Washington's offense ranked fifth in scoring and seventh in yards last season -- the first time it has finished top 10 in both categories since 2012 -- leading the team to the NFC Championship Game. But four of the Commanders top six receivers from 2024 are pending free agents. They also lacked a consistent second option alongside Pro Bowl receiver Terry McLaurin. Multiple players filled that role last season: Noah Brown, Dyami Brown, and Olamide Zaccheaus. All three are potential free agents. The team's schedule for the upcoming season is as follows:

1. Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
3. Week 3: vs. Buffalo Bills

Perhaps most alarming for the Niners was Samuel's rushing production dropped dramatically. After averaging 6.2 yards per carry when he emerged as the Niners' "wide back" in 2021, he managed just 3.2 yards in 2024. Samuel's frustration with his and the team's struggles boiled over a couple of times in 2024. In a November win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Samuel confronted kicker Jake Moody after his third missed field goal of the game. When long snapper Taybor Pepper stepped in to defend Moody, it led to a back and forth with some minor shoves before the sides were separated. Samuel has struggled to regain that form, averaging 56 receptions for 731.3 receiving yards and four touchdowns with 40 carries for 197.7 yards and three touchdowns over the past three seasons. The 49ers again find themselves in need of more help in a wide receiver room full of questions, with Brandon Aiyuk coming off a torn right ACL and MCL and it's unclear when he will be cleared to return to practice. Jauan Jennings emerged as the team's most productive wideout in 2023 but is entering the final year of his contract, and rookie Ricky Pearsall flashed late-season promise but is still largely unproven. The future of the 49ers' wide receiver room is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Deebo Samuel is no longer a part of it.