Deebo Samuel is back with the 49ers, and the reason he gave for the reunion is pretty straightforward: the place still feels like home.
San Francisco moved quickly to bring him in once it became clear Ricky Pearsall would need season-ending surgery on his PCL injury. The deal itself is a one-year agreement worth up to $7 million, and part of that money is incentive-based.
Samuel had spent just one season with the Washington Commanders before hitting free agency, and there weren’t any reports suggesting he was close to landing elsewhere. With the 49ers dealing with the kind of injury issues that keep reshaping rosters, the fit lined up fast.
On the NFL Network, Samuel pointed to the organization’s culture as a major part of why he wanted to come back.
"This is where I got drafted at, and the culture that John [Lynch] and Kyle [Shanahan] and those guys have built with the players that they have bought in, and the mentality that they have instilled in all the players, it's just a standard," Samuel shared on the NFL Network.
"And you can go back to last year-I was still keeping tabs on the guys. And with all the injuries and this, that, and the third that they was dealt, they still had a great season.
And that's just the standard of next-man-up mentality. Everybody practices the same, everybody lives under one standard."
He also reunited with Brock Purdy, picking up again after the two had helped push the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl in 2022 and 2023. Samuel had praise for Purdy’s steadiness and efficiency.
"I think Brock has been the most consistent, persistent, really good in decision-making, not making too many mistakes," Samuel said. "I think that's what he's really, really good at-getting the ball out on time, and giving receivers opportunities to step back to the ball even when you're covered. Let's see [if you can] make this play to build that trust, and also challenging the defense as well."
The return has been well received by staff and players in San Francisco. Still, expectations should be kept in check. Samuel is older now, and he’s not likely to be the same player he was in the peak stretch of his career.
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