Commanders Have ‘Uncomfortable’ WR1 Option With $81 Million All-Pro

   

For all of the stellar work the Washington Commanders have done putting together a legitimate Super Bowl contender this offseason, it could all seemingly be undone by the absence of just one player.Commanders WR Terry McLaurin 'frustrated' over contract, uncertain for camp  | Reuters

Ask yourself: Are the Commanders still a Super Bowl contender without NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin?

The main thing to consider if McLaurin doesn’t play for the Commanders again because of a trade or misses regular season games due to a prolonged contract holdout is the WR1 option without McLaurin becomes former NFL All-Pro Deebo Samuel.

It’s not a role Samuel seems suited for at this point in his career.

“Samuel is just not a Wide Receiver 1,” ESPN’s Kevin Clark said on “First Take” on August 1. “Everybody is uncomfortable with that. He’s a good second option, but if McLaurin isn’t there and they have to use Samuel there, the wide receivers are kind of done.”


Samuel Joins Commanders at Career Crossroads

Samuel is in his first season with the Commanders after the San Francisco 49ers traded him 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 put him toward the top of his list of NFL players under the “Most Pressure” to perform in 2025. Samuel, who will have $81.7 million in career earnings after this season, is 3 years removed from his lone All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 2021, when he had 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns.

Samuel is coming off arguably the worst season of his career in 2024, when he had 806 yards and 4 touchdowns in 15 games. He also seemed out of shape.

Samuel hit a low point with an in game confrontation with long snapper Taybor Pepper and kicker Jake Moody after a missed field goal that turned physical.