The San Francisco 49ers reportedly agreed to trade their All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders. The 49ers will receive a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft in exchange.
Samuel previously requested a trade from the 49ers after an exit interview with head coach Kyle Shanahan. The wideout wanted a change of scenery after a disappointing campaign while his non-guaranteed salary for 2025, the last year of his contract, also played a part.
The Commanders are now committed to paying Samuel $17.5 million in 2025 while the 49ers are set to take a $31.5 million dead money hit due to a contract restructure from September.
Samuel emerged as one of the most versatile offensive players in the league since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He had his best season as a pro in 2021, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selection after having 77 catches for 1,405 yards and adding 14 touchdowns from scrimmage.
However, Samuel’s production dipped since then and he failed to reach 900 yards receiving in any of the past three seasons. Last season he had 61 catches for 670 yards and three TDs.
The Commanders now hope that they can help Samuel rediscover his past form and have him as one of the top weapons on offense for their talented young quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The 49ers, on the other hand, got the most they could for a player who was already a strong candidate for being released.
