The largest storyline facing the San Francisco 49ers so far this offseason has been around the future of former All-Pro WR Deebo Samuel. He's been one of the most versatile weapons in the NFL since his arrival in 2019 and has only ever played for this organization.
It quickly became clear after the season ended that Samuel was likely to play for a new team in 2025, particularly as the 49ers prepare to offer QB Brock Purdy a contract extension and need to create some flexibility with salary cap space.
With that in mind, fans have been bracing for the worst. According to a surprise report on Saturday from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Samuel has officially been traded. Unfortunately, the 49ers received a disappointing return that doesn't feel appropriate for a player of Samuel's caliber.
It’s a 5th rounder going to SF. And Deebo has a new home. https://t.co/aOMleOdBQX
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2025
49ers Trade WR Deebo Samuel to Commanders for 5th-Round Pick
Samuel was sent to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick per Rapoport. That's similar to what the Kansas City Chiefs traded for DeAndre Hopkins and less than what San Francisco spent on struggling kicker Jake Moody. To call this underwhelming would be an understatement with that context.
It's difficult to watch someone who has been as valuable as Samuel go to an NFC rival, though his play clearly dropped off in 2024. He caught just 51 passes for 670 yards and three TDs in 15 games, failing to live up to the $21.7 million price tag he'll carry next year. Since the 49ers are paying guys like George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk as well as numerous defenders, it's difficult for them to put that much money into two wideouts.
Originally a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, Samuel has played in two Super Bowls with San Francisco and is one of the organization's defining players of the last half-decade. Receiving a mere fifth-round pick sounds disrespectful based on his contributions, though in all likelihood it was the market value. Samuel is 29 years old, expensive, and diminishing in efficiency, reducing the little leverage the 49ers had even before he publicly requested the trade.
Even still, it hurts to see such a beloved player go. Here's hoping Samuel doesn't make his old team regret trading him within the NFC in a playoff game down the line.