When it was revealed that the San Francisco 49ers were allowing Deebo Samuel to explore trade options, it felt like a matter of when, not if, the long-time Niner would get dealt. Sure enough, just weeks later, Samuel has been traded to the Washington Commanders, a team connected to the wideout from the start.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Samuel was being sent to Washington in exchange for a fifth-round pick. That's right: The Commanders acquired one of the premier YAC receivers in the sport to support Jayden Daniels in exchange for just one single Day 3 pick.
The first 2025 off-season NFL trade: San Francisco has agreed to send standout wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2025
Like any trade agreed to now, it cannot be processed until the new league year begins…
The Commanders were a scary team seemingly out of nowhere in 2024, making a run all the way to the NFC Championship Game thanks in large part to Daniels' historic rookie season. Now, before the new league year has officially begun, the Commanders have made a move to bolster the team's greatest strength.
NFL trade grades: Commanders bolster offense by acquiring Deebo Samuel
The Commanders ranked fifth in the NFL in points per game (28.5) in the regular season, and averaged over 30 points per game in their three postseason contests. They did this despite having 34-year-old Zach Ertz as their second-leading receiver and Olamide Zaccheaus as their second-best wideout in terms of yards. Samuel might not be the dynamic superstar he once was, but he's a massive leg up over what Washington had behind Terry McLaurin.
Everything about this deal feels like a no-brainer for Washington. His cap hit is set to be at a very reasonable $15.8 million in 2025, and he's extremely versatile, which could be fun to watch paired with Daniels and dynamic play-caller Kliff Kingsbury. Sure, he has an injury history and is probably in decline, but he's only under contract for one year, the money is reasonable, and they gave up very little to get him.
The Commanders did well here, and it's hard to say the same for the Niners. Yes, Samuel is not the player he once was, but as mentioned above, his cap hit isn't absurd. The Niners trading him straps them with a whopping $31.5 million of dead money according to Over The Cap (assuming the deal is made official before June 1), which is absurd.
Had the Niners received more than a fifth-round pick, perhaps that would've made more sense. The team only acquiring a Day 3 pick for a quality wideout while taking on an enormous cap hit is not great. Yes, Samuel requested a trade, but that does not mean they had to grant his request. The team could have simply kept him around and hoped he bounced back for a team trying to win the Super Bowl in 2025.
Instead, the Niners traded a talented player, didn't get much in return, and are eating a ton of money in the process. It just doesn't seem wise.