Deebo Samuel’s first crack at free agency after leaving Washington has not produced the kind of market he likely imagined.
The Commanders decided not to bring him back, and for now the veteran wide receiver is still waiting for a clear next landing spot. One insider says there’s no real buzz building around him, and no obvious team stepping forward with serious interest.
That’s a sharp turn for a player Washington spent a fifth-round pick on last offseason. Samuel didn’t change the direction of the Commanders’ season, but he did stand out as one of the few steady presences in a messy year, handling everything professionally and producing when asked.
Still, that hasn’t translated into a strong market. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said he hasn’t heard of any team lining up to add Samuel, and he believes the financial reality could land hard.
“Deebo is a confusing case, because I haven’t seen or heard a word about anyone interested in Deebo Samuel. What Deebo Samuel has to accept is that he’s going to be making a hell of a lot less than he’s been making to do the same thing he’s always done.”
Samuel has already banked $82.42 million in career earnings from NFL contracts, with endorsements adding even more. But the idea of a $15 million-per-year deal now looks unrealistic, and any new contract may end up being short-term rather than a major long-term commitment.
Washington, for its part, has moved on. There was a case for bringing Samuel back, and a reunion still isn’t impossible if general manager Adam Peters decides the offense needs another reliable target. But that path looks less likely if the Commanders want to keep adding speed to the receiver room.
Samuel was eager to reach free agency and choose his next team for himself. This was supposed to be his chance to work through the full process and pick his destination, but things have not unfolded the way he probably expected.
Maybe the price tag was too high. Maybe teams have decided there isn’t much left in the tank.
Maybe it’s both. Whatever the reason, Samuel may need to reset his expectations before the market opens back up.
That’s the NFL for you. When the asking price drops, interest usually follows. Samuel still has the kind of versatility that can help a contender as a complementary piece, but right now the question is simple: who, exactly, is going to step up?
In Other News...
Leo Chenal's Reveal Just Raised A Big Sonny Styles Question
Washington spent the offseason trying to get younger and faster at linebacker, and the additions of Leo Chenal and Sonny Styles were a clear part of that plan. The Commanders want more versatility in the middle of their defense, and the idea is to lean on a group that can move around rather than a single static look. Frankie Luvu remains a key piece in that mix, giving the unit a veteran presence while the coaching staff sorts out how the new arrivals fit.
Chenals recent comments only sharpened the intrigue around how Washington will line up once the games start. The expectation is a base 3-4 structure with multiple inside linebackers involved, but the exact combination could shift depending on the package and the opponent. With Daronte Jones having room to deploy Luvu, Styles and Chenal in different ways, the real question is how quickly the Commanders settle on the roles that make the most sense. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Camp Could Push A Familiar Name Off The 53
Training camp is the point when the Commanders finally start turning a crowded roster into a real 53-man picture, and this year the pressure is spread across several spots. The left side of the offensive line is still up for grabs between Chris Paul and Brandon Coleman, while the receiver room has enough bodies to make even established names feel exposed. Add in a running back group trying to sort out its pecking order and a cornerback mix that changed after the signing of Rasul Douglas, and there is plenty for the staff to sort through before the first preseason decisions arrive.
Antonio Hamilton Sr. is among the players now sitting closest to the cut line at cornerback, which shows how quickly one move can ripple through a roster battle. The same kind of squeeze is playing out at other positions too, with Jeremy McNichols holding an edge in the backfield and the offensive line competition still unresolved, but the most interesting part is how many familiar names are still vulnerable if camp performances do not match their experience. [Read more 🡒]