The Washington Commanders will have found another key weapon for Jayden Daniels in 2025 after trading for a new wide receiver.
After an impressive run in the NFL Playoffs, the Maryland-based team managed to make the NFC Championship game for the first time since 1992.
Losing 55-23 to their NFC East division rival Philadelphia Eagles may have been a bad look, but the Commanders made it way further than many expected them to in their first year under Dan Quinn.
Jayden Daniels had the best rookie season by any quarterback ever, and he has the potential to develop even further in the future.
With a lot of cap space to use, and some draft capital at their disposal, general manager Adam Peters made a phone call to the San Francisco 49ers.
From there he traded a fifth-round pick, and will receive 29-year-old wide receiver Deebo Samuel in exchange, who is entering the final year of his contract.
The Commanders need to make transformational moves and this could be one of them. True competition between their receiving corps will only make them stronger.
Commanders took a ‘calculated risk’ by trading for Deebo Samuel
Stephen A. Smith was disgusted at what the Commanders did to Daniels in the playoffs, and praised the rookie for his excellent play even when those around him couldn’t match his levels.
There are plenty of holes to address ahead of the 2025 season, and now one of them has been ticked off with a player who looked set to leave his previous team nearly two years ago.
Samuel then signed a three-year deal out of the blue, but will complete the rest of it on the other side of the country.
Mike Florio believes that general manager Peters has weighed the move up and sees the potential benefits of it.
“This is a calculated risk for the Commanders. On one hand, you’ve got Adam Peters, the GM of the team, who knows a thing or two about Deebo Samuel because he was the assistant GM in San Francisco when Samuel got his latest deal.
“Remember all that ugliness from 2022? Samuel was done with the 49ers, he wanted to be traded back to the east coast for all these different reasons and explanations.
“It felt like they were headed in separate directions and then boom, they did the deal. Now, with one year left on that contract, there’s a new deal in place. At least a new team in place.”
What the Washington Commanders need to do to become Super Bowl contenders
The Commanders could trade for Myles Garrett and immediately they would be considered a threat to make a deep run in the playoffs again.
Conceding 55 points to the Eagles was a bad look and they need to find a way of generating some extra pressure on the opposing quarterback.
What better way to do that than with one of the best defensive players in the league, who is available and ready only to join a contender.
With some positive additions in the draft, there’s no reason why this team cannot keep a young core, and add experience and talent to help them go the extra mile.
