The first major trade of the NFL offseason has just been agreed to.
After requesting out of the San Francisco 49ers, star wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s wish has been granted. He will be going across the country to the Washington Commanders, whose general manager Adam Peters was 49ers assistant general manager prior to taking the Washington job.
As for the compensation? Deebo’s trade value is not particularly high given the money he’s owed and the difficult season he just had, so the Commanders are only forking over a fifth-round pick.
The first 2025 off-season NFL trade: San Francisco has agreed to send standout wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
Like any trade agreed to now, it cannot be processed until the new league year begins…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2025
Details on the financial ramifications of this trade are not yet clear, although it looks as if the 49ers would be taking on a $30 million cap hit and not saving any money at all.
The 29-year-old Samuel was entering the final year of his three-year, $70 million contract extension. Known for his dynamic versatility as a wide receiver and running back, Samuel looked lackluster in what’s evidently his farewell season with the 49ers. He posted 51 catches for 670 yards and 3 touchdowns, while rushing for just 136 yards on 42 carries and a single touchdown. His 44 receiving yards per game was a career low and he had no running plays for longer than 13 yards.
It’s not a surprise that the Commanders were in the market for a wide receiver following their remarkable run to the NFC Championship Game. Terry McLaurin has been an outstanding number one option, but Samuel would presumably become that second option for Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.
Meanwhile, the 49ers could be doing some more revamping of their receiver group. Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday that the team is open to trading Brandon Aiyuk, even after giving him a four-year extension last season. Aiyuk is coming off a horrific knee injury in which he tore his ACL and MCL.
Samuel might be done playing the Seattle Seahawks in a 49ers uniform, but as long as this trade happens and he stays healthy, we will see the Seahawks take on Deebo when they travel to Maryland to take on the Commanders in the 2025 regular season.
