The Washington Commanders put strengthening the options around star quarterback Jayden Daniels at the top of their offseason priorities. One NFL analyst believes Adam Peters struck gold with a major acquisition that has the scope to completely change the dynamic.
Suring up the offensive line got the required attention with Laremy Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr. coming into the fold. Peters' aggressive recruitment didn't end there. It began by sending a fifth-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr.
This could be an absolute bargain if the former second-round pick bounces back from a down year in 2024. Samuel looks re-energized and ready to make a lasting contribution over early offseason workouts. Kliff Kingsbury should find ways to maximize his explosiveness and versatility. Having Terry McLaurin on the opposite side of the field is also going to help his cause considerably.
Commanders have a potential trade heist on their hands with Deebo Samuel Sr.
Add Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports to the list of analysts who believe Samuel is going to be a big hit in Washington. He felt the price attached could look minuscule if the South Carolina graduate takes advantage of this significant chance. He also praised the Commanders for acting with conviction to give Daniels everything he needed to thrive moving forward.
"Is [Deebo] Samuel a durable game-breaker going on 30? Maybe. Maybe not. Still, Washington added the former 49ers star for a single fifth-round pick. That's a potential steal given his fit as a rugged multipurpose weapon opposite the field-stretching Terry McLaurin. It's just nice to see this team isn't sitting on its hands with the dynamic Jayden Daniels under center."
Cody Benjamin
All the pieces are in place for Samuel to remind the world why he was considered among the league's most prolific dual-threat weapons once upon a time. And he shouldn't be lacking in motivation, that's for sure.
Samuel's heard all the criticism coming his way this offseason. He knows the Niners don't think he's got much left in the tank. The wideout will be eager to make them pay, which could even lead to another lucrative contract extension if everything goes according to plan or better than expected.
If it doesn't, the Commanders won't keep him around when 2026 free agency arrives. It's not cost them much to find out for sure, so the ball is now firmly in Samuel's court.
This is the fresh start Samuel wanted. Capitalizing on it could be enough for Washington's offense to reach heights very few can match.
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