It didn't take long for the Washington Commanders to come up as a potential landing spot for Deebo Samuel once the wide receiver had his trade request granted by the San Francisco 49ers. Whether they show concrete interest is another matter.
The dots connect themselves. Samuel was drafted in the second round when Adam Peters was an influential figure in San Francisco's front office. The Commanders' general manager won't need a scouting report to know the player's strengths and weaknesses — he saw that enough for himself.
Washington is locked and loaded for an aggressive offseason. Their ambitious project is ahead of schedule and there is a need to take advantage of quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie contract. It's sooner than anticipated, but the Commanders' window is open.
Just what it would take to land Samuel is anyone's guess. The Niners won't be giving him away despite making him surplus to requirements. But his regression last season and the fact he's almost 30 years old mean a high-end draft selection is out of the question.
Touted Deebo Samuel trade package is too steep for Commanders
Ben Strauss from Clutch Points took a swing at what the trade package could be. The Commanders would get Samuel and a seventh-round selection from the Niners. They'd give up a third-round pick in 2025 and a conditional late-rounder in 2026 to seal the deal.
Washington is in a strong position to be able to trade for Samuel. He currently costs $15.9 million against the cap for the 49ers. However, to make any potential trade a reality, the Commanders may have to agree to extend Samuel after acquiring him. This is because Samuel's existing contract features multiple void years after the 2025 season. If Washington is convinced that Samuel is worth trading for, they can certainly afford to keep him. Admittedly, this trade scenario is difficult to figure out from an outside perspective. Deebo's nebulous contract situation makes it difficult to ascertain his value on the trade market.Ben Strauss
The Commanders might inquire. If this is the asking price, it shouldn't go any further.
San Francisco doesn't have much leverage in negotiations. They want to get Samuel's contract off the books. They want to extract maximum value, but that means taking on some/most of his salary to seal the deal. If the price goes down to a fourth or maybe a fifth-round pick, that's more intriguing.
Commanders fans are split on the prospect of Samuel coming into the fold. He'd be a sensational addition at the peak of his powers, but it's been a long time since his All-Pro campaign of 1,770 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021.
Fortunately for the Commanders, they have the best possible person to determine whether this is a viable option or not.
Peters will know how much wear and tear is on the player. He'll know what sort of fit he'd be in the locker room. He'll also know what an acceptable price would be from a compensation standpoint where the South Carolina product is concerned.
Every option will be considered and the Commanders will turn over every stone in pursuit of improvements. Samuel is a good player, just not at this price.
