Deebo Samuel, Commanders
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Wide receiver Deebo Samuel of the Washington Commanders.
After the Washington Commanders signed Terry McLaurin to a lucrative multi-year contract extension earlier this month, this offense finally appears to be close to full strength entering the 2025 NFL season.
Now with McLaurin back in the mix, one report suggests that Deebo Samuel’s impact on this offense could be exactly what the Commanders need to reach their true potential in 2025.
Deebo Samuel Could be the Final Piece of Unlocking the True Potential of this Washington Offense in 2025
Jeff Howe of The Athletic recently compiled some intel for all 32 teams across the NFL entering the 2025 season. The tidbit he reported for Commanders WR Deebo Samuel should be enough to get Washington fans excited about the outlook of this offense.
Howe wrote, “Wide receiver Deebo Samuel looks leaner and faster after shedding weight this offseason. The Commanders have been blown away by his commitment to recapturing as much of his prime as possible. Samuel’s production leveled off over his last three seasons with the 49ers, but he could be an asset with Washington, especially now that Terry McLaurin is back in the fold and ready to unlock the offense’s potential.”
The Commanders’ offense relied heavily on Terry McLaurin in 2024, which was evident by his 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, the team struggled to find a consistent producer at the WR position throughout the majority of last season — which prompted the organization to acquire Samuel via trade this offseason.
Benjamin Solak of ESPN believes that Samuel’s dynamic ability to create explosive plays after the catch could make him the ultimate X factor for the Commanders in 2025.
“Samuel was already an intriguing player when the Commanders traded for him: a wide receiver barely ever used down the field, best creating after the catch and beyond his athletic prime, but perhaps with some seasons left in the tank. As things have developed further — the recently resolved training camp holdout from Terry McLaurin and the lack of wide receiver depth — Samuel has become even more important,” wrote Solak. “The Commanders expect to spread and shred the field again, so Samuel figures to consistently get six or seven touches a game as a backfield option or receiver on quick run-pass options (RPOs). They need him to be dynamic, and while he wasn’t the same player last season as he was prior to that, he still is above average. Samuel was 12th among all skill-position players in yards after catch (YAC) over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats.”
What Should be the Expectations for Deebo Samuel in 2025?
Samuel’s 51 receptions for 670 yards and three scores worth of production as a pass catcher in 2024 was pretty disappointing considering the San Francisco 49ers lost Brandon Aiyuk early in the season to a devastating knee injury. Samuel failing to emerge as the clear-cut top receiver in the offense likely led to the 49ers’ decision to part ways with him this offseason.
Yet, Samuel is joining a team that desperately needs an underneath YAC threat to complement McLaurin — which could make this a potential great fit for both player and scheme.
If Samuel can generate explosive plays at a similar rate to what we saw from him in 2023 and 2021, then this Commanders’ offense has a chance to be truly special in 2025.