Deebo Samuel
Getty
Deebo Samuel tells fans to wait for the kickoff of Week 1 to see what impact he will have on Washington's offense.
The Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a third wide receiver, and one of the more unique options in the entire NFL remains a free agent.
Deebo Samuel can play inside, outside and work out of the backfield as an option in the run game, which suits a Vikings offense that lacks depth at the receiver position behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and is currently running it back with the RB tandem of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
The versatility of both Samuel and Addison working in the slot or on the outside, as well as Samuel’s ability to bolster an offense’s rushing attack would open up a variety of potential looks in Minnesota’s offense, which new QB Kyler Murray will presumably run.
Deebo Samuel Could Prove Interesting Pairing for New Vikings QB Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray
GettyQuarterback Kyler Murray, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals.
Samuel is coming off a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders that paid him north of $17 million in 2025. He will play next season at the age of 30, and Spotrac projects Samuel’s market value at two years and $31.5 million total.
That price is steep for Minnesota, which has significant needs elsewhere on the roster — namely along the defensive front and in the secondary. But WR3 is a meaningful gap and the Vikings have chosen, thus far, not to spend any assets on improving the RB room.
That Samuel can do both in a new-look offense with Murray, which is liable to include more shotgun and pistol, should up his value and help justify a higher salary total.
“With a quarterback who has Murray’s mobility, the pistol especially can be incredibly effective,” Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic wrote this week. “The quarterback can see the defense as if he’s in shotgun, with a full menu of motions at his disposal, while he is able to disguise the run direction and whether he or the running back will keep the ball. He can also keep the play action passing game as if from under center.”
Deebo Samuel Can Fill Unique Playmaker Role Within Vikings’ Offense
Deebo Samuel
GettyWide receiver Deebo Samuel, formerly of the Washington Commanders.
All of that acknowledged, however, Samuel’s continued availability this deep into free agency could push his value downward and render him more affordable for a team like the Vikings.
And if Samuel is interested in winning at a high level, which he did for most of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, he might have more interest in Minnesota at a moderate discount than in other teams with less savvy coaching staffs and weaker rosters.
Samuel put up 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns last season, adding 75 yards and one score on 17 carries. For his career, the one-time All-Pro has tallied 5,519 receiving yards, 1,218 rushing yards and 48 total TDs.
With the draft now just 16 days away, it would not be a surprise if Samuel remains on the market through those proceedings, after which teams still in need of versatile playmakers are more likely to come calling based on what players they did, or didn’t, acquire.
Minnesota holds a total of nine selections, including four within the first three rounds.