On one coast, the San Francisco 49ers are dealing with injury after injury to their wide receiver corps.
On the other coast, Deebo Samuel has hit the ground running for the Washington Commanders after his trade across the country.
It’s not a contrast that ‘Niners fans can be too happy to see. Samuel may have slowed down just a bit late in his San Francisco tenure, but he’s still a playmaker.
Just in his D.C. debut, he had seven catches and also ran for a 19-yard TD.
The Commanders are certainly fine with how it all went down.
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Deebo Samuel trade details
The trade between the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders took place on March 12:
- Commanders get: WR Deebo Samuel
- 49ers get: 2025 5th-round pick
San Francisco used the Deebo pick (originally from the Saints in the Marshon Lattimore trade) to draft Oregon RB Jordan James.
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Why did the 49ers trade away Deebo Samuel to the Commanders?
The 49ers traded Samuel away, in large part, because he requested a trade.
San Francisco saved money by sending Samuel away. They retain more than $17 million more over the next few years by getting rid of Samuel.
He was also coming off a subpar 2024 season that was part of the reason the ‘Niners went 6-11. But that wasn’t helped by injuries all over the field, either.
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Why did the Commanders trade for Deebo Samuel?
Washington saw an opportunity when Samuel was on the block, and a fifth-round pick was a small price to pay.
Samuel is one of the most unique players in the NFL. He has 22 career receiving TDs and 21 career rushing TDs (counting his score in Week 1).
He gave the Commanders a true No. 2 WR alongside Terry McLaurin to catch passes from second-year QB Jayden Daniels.
But he also provided an exhilarating offensive weapon who can put pressure on defenses in a lot of ways.
And so far, so good.
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