WR Deebo Samuel, WAS (1 Viewer)

[TheDirtyWord]

For a 5th rounder...you might as well see what he has left. But I thought he looked sluggish last year. Even on his long TD, it took awhile for him to pull away from the LB. To be fair, the loss of Aiyuk was big and he'll have McLaurin so he could be relevant.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Washington can afford to take swings like this. They've got a bazillion $$ in cap room. If it doesn't work out, they're out $18m and a 5th round pick. If Samuel does work out there, they've got a sorely-needed playmaker. This why it was so wise that they didn't blow all of their cap money last year like other franchises would have done.

 

[ChicoCat]

Solid, cheap move for a good football player who is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. This is the kind of move that, if WAS, goes far...people will be saying was one of the reasons. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't break the bank for WAS. Getting Daniels playmakers is key.

As an Eagles fan, I'm glad it was Deebo over Tyreek Hill or Tee Higgins though.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Not really impressed with this guy. Living off his AP1 year a few years ago. Always seems to have some type of limiting issue. I hope the Commanders are dumb enough to extend him before the season.

He was the 2nd best WR in the NFL in 2021 and was also awesome in 2023. Last year was his worst season, and really until the pneumonia, he was playing just fine. I'll say I think he hurts McLaurin quite a bit. Like to the point that they are both WR2s. He also likely kills Ertz value, if he is even retained.

I think people get too obsessed with raw stats sometimes. Deebo completely changes how defenses play and offers value FAR beyond the box score. This is an excellent move by Washington in my eyes. Possibly the best WR they could have added given their offense.

The big fantasy winner here is George Kittle. His splits with/without Deebo are legendary. He's TE1 overall in redraft in my opinion, especially as we don't really know Aiyuk's timeline or Bowers QB.

I wouldn't call him "awesome" in 2023. He was the third option in the passing game and his advanced numbers were pretty similar to this season. The only difference was because he was surrounded by so many AP1 players on offense his yard before catch and rush yards before contact were higher which inflated his counting stats. But as an individual, he was pretty much the same guy in 2023 and 2024. He just got exposed more as to what he was once those other guys were out.

 

[Ray_T]

Not really impressed with this guy. Living off his AP1 year a few years ago. Always seems to have some type of limiting issue. I hope the Commanders are dumb enough to extend him before the season.

He was the 2nd best WR in the NFL in 2021 and was also awesome in 2023. Last year was his worst season, and really until the pneumonia, he was playing just fine. I'll say I think he hurts McLaurin quite a bit. Like to the point that they are both WR2s. He also likely kills Ertz value, if he is even retained.

I think people get too obsessed with raw stats sometimes. Deebo completely changes how defenses play and offers value FAR beyond the box score. This is an excellent move by Washington in my eyes. Possibly the best WR they could have added given their offense.

The big fantasy winner here is George Kittle. His splits with/without Deebo are legendary. He's TE1 overall in redraft in my opinion, especially as we don't really know Aiyuk's timeline or Bowers QB.

I wouldn't call him "awesome" in 2023. He was the third option in the passing game and his advanced numbers were pretty similar to this season. The only difference was because he was surrounded by so many AP1 players on offense his yard before catch and rush yards before contact were higher which inflated his counting stats. But as an individual, he was pretty much the same guy in 2023 and 2024. He just got exposed more as to what he was once those other guys were out.

I agree. he was good in 2023. not awesome.

but one thing I will say about the guy, he may have been overlooked because of the sheer amount of talent in the offense. There were too many mouths to feed there. I think he saw this and wanted to be where hed be the lead dog (or at least get enough love to put up some stats)

that one year he was Electric in every sense of the word. but clearly 2nd fiddle to Aiyuk/Kittle in the pass game and CMC ..... well he affects everything when hes in the lineup.

it could be a bounce back year for Deebo in Washington.

 

[travdogg]

He was the 2nd best WR in the NFL in 2021 and was also awesome in 2023.

He was indeed great in 2021, but was pretty average in 2023. In fact, his 2021 season seems to have been the outlier - never has had more than 77 receptions from that season and that was his only 1K receiving season.

He’s a very good overall football player - or at least was - but not a dynamic receiver. Not singling you out, but I think many are projecting that 2021 season to who Deebo is at this stage, and the value he should command.

I don't think a single person is doing that. I think the opposite is happening where too many people are assuming a season where he had pneumonia should be what we pretend he just is now. As if pneumonia is the common cold or something, and not a potentially life-threatening illness, that is a bigger hindrance than say a high ankle sprain or something like that. In the 5 games before that happened last season, Deebo was on an 1100-7 pace.

I think Deebo gets his rushing pretty much ignored. Its sort of like how people were constantly bringing up how Jalen Hurts only had so many passing yards and TDs, and much like then, in my opinion, its a bad (or at least incomplete) argument.

I'm certainly not going to project 2021 numbers for Deebo. But 2023 was hardly an average season. He had 15 yards per catch and 6 per rush, for 1117 yards and 12 TDs, and that was with 2 missed games (17 games is unlikely, but that's baked into his price, both NFL and fantasy) I think for 2025, 70-ish yards a game and a TD every other week, is a realistic expectation. Fantasy wise, don't underestimate the possibility that Washington's offense is just a lot better than SF's, and that Jayden Daniels is already the best player in the NFC. Throws to guys like Noah/Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus are now going to Deebo, a big upgrade no matter what version of Deebo it is.

 

[Tau837]

So reports are Washington is paying his whole $17.5m salary.

That makes just getting back a 5th make sense.

What I don’t get is already converted most of his base to bonus last year and OTC and Spotrac were showing his base was near league minimum. This was why both of those sites showed a $31m cap hit to trade him now because it pushed all that bonus money they paid out already to be on the cap. I usually have a good handle on contracts, though the option bonus have caused me a little confusion but still can’t figure out how his pay this year is that high. Some info seems off on those sites

His compensation in 2025 is:

• Salary - $1.17M
• Roster bonus per game in 2025 - $750K
• Option bonus due on 3/22/2025 - $15.4M
• Workout bonus - $200K
• Total compensation - $17.52M

The option bonus could be spread out over 5 seasons, which today would mean 4 void years (2026-2029), but they don't have to do that. They could just make it a 2025 non-prorated bonus or convert to salary. It also seems that they could decide to sign him to an extension and rework the contract terms and 2025 cap hit if they so desire.

The 49ers dead cap hit to trade him is:

• $4.807M x 2 for his remaining prorated signing bonus
• $1.843M x 3 for the remaining prorated 2023 option bonus
• Total dead cap - 15.143M

The sites that are showing a $31M cap hit to trade him must have been assuming the trade would occur after 3/22/2025, and thus assuming SF would be on the hook for the 2025 option bonus. I'm sure that deadline was a motivating factor for SF to get this done.

Is there any link for this or is this your independent analysis? I'm having trouble finding confirmation that this is the case.

The information is all on his Spotrac page except I had to Google for the date his 2025 option bonus is due.

As a Chargers fan, I have gotten deep into salary cap analysis for their rosters for the past several years, so I am pretty knowledgeable about it.

A lot of what mainstream media posts about salary cap numbers is wrong because they mostly don’t have an in depth understanding.

ETA: I missed an important detail the first time. I have corrected my original post. $31M is indeed correct.

 

[menobrown]

The information is all on his Spotrac page except I had to Google for the date his 2025 option bonus is due

I prefer OTC but Spotrac is better for finding when option bonus are due and I had actually checked their site earlier, like when I heard he was on the block and as you are saying I did not see it. I assumed you might be a premium member for Spotrac or OTC but now sounds like that's not the case so wanted to ask when you googled it did you find the information on another similar site or just in an article? Asking so I have another potential source.

Like I indicated in the post you responded to with your very useful info, I've long had a good handle on contracts and agree the media gets a lot of stuff wrong on that, but the option bonus has been a little tricky to figure out on some players so specifically looking to any site which gives out that info.

 

[menobrown]

Thought this was relevant to the Deebo is toast narrative, this was a Q&A in late December:

49ers mailbag: Will Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga be offseason priorities?

Among this week's questions: I want to buy my 10-year-old nephew a 49ers jersey for Christmas. Which player should I pick?

www.nytimes.com

Looking back on training camp, I remember folks in the media saying Samuel appeared to be in great shape and that he was one of the better players in camp. Do you think his slip in production is because of age, wear and tear or an injury? — Jack D.

The reports out of training camp were legitimate — he looked as close to “prime Deebo” as he’d been since 2021. And he got off to a fine start. He had a rushing touchdown in Week 1 and 110 receiving yards in Week 2.

But he came out of the Week 2 game with a calf injury and didn’t play in Week 3. He had his bout with pneumonia in Week 7, then suffered a rib/oblique injury in Week 8. He hasn’t been effective since then. I’m not saying he’s still dealing with any injuries, but Samuel is a momentum player. And it’s clear the midseason issues halted the momentum he’d built in the summer.

 

[Tau837]

The information is all on his Spotrac page except I had to Google for the date his 2025 option bonus is due

I prefer OTC but Spotrac is better for finding when option bonus are due and I had actually checked their site earlier, like when I heard he was on the block and as you are saying I did not see it. I assumed you might be a premium member for Spotrac or OTC but now sounds like that's not the case so wanted to ask when you googled it did you find the information on another similar site or just in an article? Asking so I have another potential source.

Like I indicated in the post you responded to with your very useful info, I've long had a good handle on contracts and agree the media gets a lot of stuff wrong on that, but the option bonus has been a little tricky to figure out on some players so specifically looking to any site which gives out that info.

I am a premium member at both but I didn’t see the info at Spotrac. I didn’t even check OTC because, as you say, Spotrac tends to be a bit more user friendly for understanding some details. I just Googled “when is Deebo Samuel’s 2025 option bonus due?” The answer was in the first result, which was an article about the trade.

I wish I had found this before my first post on the subject: 49ers Agree to Trade Samuel to Washington

 

[JohnnyU]

For a 5th rounder...you might as well see what he has left. But I thought he looked sluggish last year. Even on his long TD, it took awhile for him to pull away from the LB. To be fair, the loss of Aiyuk was big and he'll have McLaurin so he could be relevant.

Yes, a 5th is cheap to see what he has left. Probably not much.

 

[Ray_T]

a fifth? I know you guys want Washington to win but make the collusion less obvious

I assumed a third (maybe a 2nd if a bidding war takes place) but I was also assuming San Fran would eat some of that salary to make the deal more acceptable to a wider number of teams.

while a 5th may still seem a bit low you are estimating a trade value for a player who has had 632, 892 and 670 yards receiving in each of the last 3 seasons and is making an awful lot of money. I acknowledge part of this is due to injury, but the guy is always dealing with injury it seems. and I think the guy is 29 years old. While some players are done by this age, most players still have 1-3 years of good production left at this point in their careers. some will have more, some wont but Deebo also has harder miles as they used him to run the ball a fair bit in San Fran, so my expectation is that there may be less tread on the tires than a normal guy in his situation.

given that San Fran retained zero salary, this isnt as bad as you think. usually when the player is signed at market prices the draft pick cost to trade a player goes down. If Deebo was still on his rookie deal, the price would have been a lot better.

 

[LawFitz]

given that San Fran retained zero salary, this isnt as bad as you think. usually when the player is signed at market prices the draft pick cost to trade a player goes down. If Deebo was still on his rookie deal, the price would have been a lot better.

This is the key. You aren't just trading for 29-yr-old Deebo Samuel. You are trading for 29-yr-old Deebo Samuel's current contract, and/or the task of reworking it.

 

[Tau837]

given that San Fran retained zero salary, this isnt as bad as you think. usually when the player is signed at market prices the draft pick cost to trade a player goes down. If Deebo was still on his rookie deal, the price would have been a lot better.

This is the key. You aren't just trading for 29-yr-old Deebo Samuel. You are trading for 29-yr-old Deebo Samuel's current contract, and/or the task of reworking it.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't see his contract as a big one for Washington. It's either $17.5M this year (declined option bonus), or $5M this year (exercised option bonus), or something different due to extension, which likely means a fairly low 2025 cap hit. I think this is a great move for Washington, and getting him for a 5th has potential to be a steal.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I think when we are discussing Deebo's production we have to include his rushing. So for all intents and purposes he was still coming off of a 1k season in 2024. He didn't do well in 2024 but that might have more to do with other things (eh o-line, no CMC, no Aiyuk) instead of his talent/diminishing talent. I mean, there certainly is the possibility that he's washed but then if he was would Washington trade for him?

I don't really think his cap number was THAT big of deal but I'm not really a numbers guy. Both sides are happy so eh. We'll see what happens but I sort of feel like SF got fleeced.

 

[KellysHeroes]

such a good trade for both sides

 

[Buckna]

Washington had the 3rd most cap space in the league before this trade. They still have plenty of $'s to go after someone in addition to Deebo at WR if they want and still have a lot left over to plug other holes, especially if they extend Deebo into something more friendly/long-term. Won't have to pay Daniels for 2~3 more years either.

 

[King of the Jungle]

Washington had the 3rd most cap space in the league before this trade. They still have plenty of $'s to go after someone in addition to Deebo at WR if they want and still have a lot left over to plug other holes, especially if they extend Deebo into something more friendly/long-term. Won't have to pay Daniels for 2~3 more years either.

That’s sitting pretty. This team is going to be a menace for awhile.

 

[brewer]

Deebo is a way better NFL football player than he is a fantasy football player. I think this is an excellent move for the Commanders.

They can afford the salary and he will contribute way more than just on the stat sheet. In the era of high profile WRs taking plays off and not wanting to block downfield, Deebo is the complete opposite of all of that.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Washington had the 3rd most cap space in the league before this trade. They still have plenty of $'s to go after someone in addition to Deebo at WR if they want and still have a lot left over to plug other holes, especially if they extend Deebo into something more friendly/long-term. Won't have to pay Daniels for 2~3 more years either.

That’s sitting pretty. This team is going to be a menace for awhile.

It's amazing what a competent organization run by people who can add/subtract and are not insane can do. You're seeing it with the team you follow.

 

[sm8680]

I'm not a 49'er homer. So, bear with me. I'm only asking what I think is obvious to me and that I may not have all the information. Is it safe to say in 2021 that the 49'ers didn't have a true RB1 and that's why his numbers went through the roof. Christian gets traded to the 49'ers in 2022. With Christian being an elite runner. In theory there's less reliance on Deebo running the ball and screens. With Christian injured for most of 2024 I'd have thought that Deebo would have had a better year. I get it Deebo is an aging player. But as fantasy footballers do we tend to keep in the back of our mind a player's best year and hope he attains it again. I honestly think this is a good move for both teams.

 

[King of the Jungle]

Washington had the 3rd most cap space in the league before this trade. They still have plenty of $'s to go after someone in addition to Deebo at WR if they want and still have a lot left over to plug other holes, especially if they extend Deebo into something more friendly/long-term. Won't have to pay Daniels for 2~3 more years either.

That’s sitting pretty. This team is going to be a menace for awhile.

It's amazing what a competent organization run by people who can add/subtract and are not insane can do. You're seeing it with the team you follow.

Absolutely, I have a soft spot for suffering franchises that are able to turn the ship around. Washington appears to fit that, hopefully they can continue to take advantage of this time with their rookie QB on first contract.

 

[Ray_T]

Deebo is a way better NFL football player than he is a fantasy football player. I think this is an excellent move for the Commanders.

They can afford the salary and he will contribute way more than just on the stat sheet. In the era of high profile WRs taking plays off and not wanting to block downfield, Deebo is the complete opposite of all of that.

that is the one thing about a WR who was trained in a Shanny system. in his system all WR block. if you dont, you dont play.

of course thats also extra wear and tear on the player with the extra hits from the blocks and such, but I dont know how that affects longevity. I'd suggest if you block properly with good technique (like hed be trained to do under Shanny) the chances of getting hurt are actually lower. its when the technique isnt good where you are likely to get hurt.

 

[Ray_T]

Washington had the 3rd most cap space in the league before this trade. They still have plenty of $'s to go after someone in addition to Deebo at WR if they want and still have a lot left over to plug other holes, especially if they extend Deebo into something more friendly/long-term. Won't have to pay Daniels for 2~3 more years either.

That’s sitting pretty. This team is going to be a menace for awhile.

It's amazing what a competent organization run by people who can add/subtract and are not insane can do. You're seeing it with the team you follow.

Absolutely, I have a soft spot for suffering franchises that are able to turn the ship around. Washington appears to fit that, hopefully they can continue to take advantage of this time with their rookie QB on first contract.

well, for Washington I think things turned around when ownership changed. team was a dumpster fire up until that point. but yeah, the turnaround is good to see.

 

[pinkstapler]

I think the one point people are overlooking for SF outside of the cap space and draft pick return is that Deebo wants to not only play, but be a significant part of the offense. Yet they just paid Aiyuk a ton, still are getting nearly 100 targets a season to Kittle, have CMC eating up nearly 350 touches a season, and (granted in a very limited sample) have a rookie who went 14/18 for 210 yds and 2 TDs the last two weeks of the season (after recovering from a gun shot wound to the chest literally a week before the season started).

I wouldn't call Deebo a prima donna or crybaby; but he also has a history of being vocal about his playing time and usage when he felt there was a need to do so. I don't think it was the only reason he was moved, but IMO it's a significant one. Shannahan has the reputation as a "my way or the highway" coach who expects players to fit into his scheme, not the other way around. I don't see him putting up with noise, or even guys who aren't buying into his plan 110%. This is why I think there's some merit to them also trading Aiyuk, even after this Deebo move. I'd bet a paycheck he's still salty about the song and dance routine Aiyuk put the team through to get his contract.

 

[Ray_T]

I think the one point people are overlooking for SF outside of the cap space and draft pick return is that Deebo wants to not only play, but be a significant part of the offense. Yet they just paid Aiyuk a ton, still are getting nearly 100 targets a season to Kittle, have CMC eating up nearly 350 touches a season, and (granted in a very limited sample) have a rookie who went 14/18 for 210 yds and 2 TDs the last two weeks of the season (after recovering from a gun shot wound to the chest literally a week before the season started).

I wouldn't call Deebo a prima donna or crybaby; but he also has a history of being vocal about his playing time and usage when he felt there was a need to do so. I don't think it was the only reason he was moved, but IMO it's a significant one. Shannahan has the reputation as a "my way or the highway" coach who expects players to fit into his scheme, not the other way around. I don't see him putting up with noise, or even guys who aren't buying into his plan 110%. This is why I think there's some merit to them also trading Aiyuk, even after this Deebo move. I'd bet a paycheck he's still salty about the song and dance routine Aiyuk put the team through to get his contract.

oh no, it was clearly a too many mouths to feed situation. no doubt about that. and Deebo wants to be the lead dog (or at least one of them)

I dont fault a guy for wanting to play a significant role. if you feel like all your skillset is not being utilized its tough to feel like you are your best version of yourself and as such, you are not as happy in your job.

I get that.

I definitely think his chances of putting up good numbers are better in Washington than they are in San Fran. I'm expecting a bit of a rebound in his stats. but I dont know if we will ever see a repeat of that 1400 yard year. I'm guessing hes a 1000 yard WR if he can stay healthy. Thats pretty good.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

DK Metcalf
Puka Nacua
DJ Moore
Tyreek Hill
Tee Higgins
Marvin Harrison Jr...just as a point of reference

All of these WRs failed to clear 1,000 yd receiving for a variety of reasons
Deebo is closing in on 30 yrs of age, has not avoided injuries the last 3 seasons, 2 of which he fails to clear 700 yds receiving
And people are open to him hitting the Top 25 in '25?
I'm not there and would prefer a younger WR with more upside

 

[menobrown]

Is it safe to say in 2021 that the 49'ers didn't have a true RB1 and that's why his numbers went through the roof.

No, first 8 games of the season they had no really started using him in that wide back role, just used like a true receiver and he had 882 yards receiving and was the #2WR in fantasy after week 9.

 

[menobrown]

My few thoughts:

Deebo did not seem to be a big fan of that wide back usage and wanted more targets. IMO he's been overly criticized for saying he was not getting the ball enough last year only to drop a crucial catch. That's one play, I think his unhappiness over not getting the ball enough as a true receiver had merit.

He was excellent in 2023 and IMO people harping on the 1K stuff I'm not supporting. For one it seems almost disingenuous to not account for his rushing production as well as not factoring in 94 targets is the max he's had since 2021. Some of that is due to missing a few games for sure but framing it like he's been an unproductive receiver is not something I am getting behind. He's not really changed much over the years. Struggles against man, terrific against zone with big time YAC skills. His tackle breaking nosedived last year and he still rated as one of the best YAC receivers in the league and as often discussed last year was a hard year to get a read on him as he started strong and then got hit with a lot of stuff.

This trade is extremely similar to the Browns trade for Amari and a little similar to the Texans trade for Diggs, they just gave a little more, a little trickier to analyze since the Bills kicked back two late round picks and the second they got back was a future second, all in all the value of that pick was probably something in the mid to late third. So I got no strong opinion on the comp, this is the market for off-season trades for older WRs making big coin. I thought the trade made sense for both teams in this case.

As for my outlook on Deebo for fantasy, love it. Read a tweet this weekend from Josh Norris so assuming it's true he mentioned something that in Kylers rookie season Kliff set an NFL league record in WR screens. No doubt Kliff has adjusted over the years but that's great to hear and not for nothing and will due respect to Purdy, let's not gloss over that Deebo's going to be playing with the best QB he's ever played with.

 

[pinkstapler]

I think the one point people are overlooking for SF outside of the cap space and draft pick return is that Deebo wants to not only play, but be a significant part of the offense. Yet they just paid Aiyuk a ton, still are getting nearly 100 targets a season to Kittle, have CMC eating up nearly 350 touches a season, and (granted in a very limited sample) have a rookie who went 14/18 for 210 yds and 2 TDs the last two weeks of the season (after recovering from a gun shot wound to the chest literally a week before the season started).

I wouldn't call Deebo a prima donna or crybaby; but he also has a history of being vocal about his playing time and usage when he felt there was a need to do so. I don't think it was the only reason he was moved, but IMO it's a significant one. Shannahan has the reputation as a "my way or the highway" coach who expects players to fit into his scheme, not the other way around. I don't see him putting up with noise, or even guys who aren't buying into his plan 110%. This is why I think there's some merit to them also trading Aiyuk, even after this Deebo move. I'd bet a paycheck he's still salty about the song and dance routine Aiyuk put the team through to get his contract.

oh no, it was clearly a too many mouths to feed situation. no doubt about that. and Deebo wants to be the lead dog (or at least one of them)

I dont fault a guy for wanting to play a significant role. if you feel like all your skillset is not being utilized its tough to feel like you are your best version of yourself and as such, you are not as happy in your job.

I get that.

I definitely think his chances of putting up good numbers are better in Washington than they are in San Fran. I'm expecting a bit of a rebound in his stats. but I dont know if we will ever see a repeat of that 1400 yard year. I'm guessing hes a 1000 yard WR if he can stay healthy. Thats pretty good.

As a Deebo owner, that would make me ecstatic. My roster is set up where I really just need him to be a semi-routine flex play/bye week fill in stay competitive, and def agree at this point his chances are better in Washington than SF now. I wouldn't be shocked if they also take a RB with this loaded class, but they have so many needs who knows. If they don't, or even just invest late, hopefully Deebo gets some rushing work as well. That's when he really starts to accumulate some fantasy numbers.

 

[Ray_T]

I think the one point people are overlooking for SF outside of the cap space and draft pick return is that Deebo wants to not only play, but be a significant part of the offense. Yet they just paid Aiyuk a ton, still are getting nearly 100 targets a season to Kittle, have CMC eating up nearly 350 touches a season, and (granted in a very limited sample) have a rookie who went 14/18 for 210 yds and 2 TDs the last two weeks of the season (after recovering from a gun shot wound to the chest literally a week before the season started).

I wouldn't call Deebo a prima donna or crybaby; but he also has a history of being vocal about his playing time and usage when he felt there was a need to do so. I don't think it was the only reason he was moved, but IMO it's a significant one. Shannahan has the reputation as a "my way or the highway" coach who expects players to fit into his scheme, not the other way around. I don't see him putting up with noise, or even guys who aren't buying into his plan 110%. This is why I think there's some merit to them also trading Aiyuk, even after this Deebo move. I'd bet a paycheck he's still salty about the song and dance routine Aiyuk put the team through to get his contract.

oh no, it was clearly a too many mouths to feed situation. no doubt about that. and Deebo wants to be the lead dog (or at least one of them)

I dont fault a guy for wanting to play a significant role. if you feel like all your skillset is not being utilized its tough to feel like you are your best version of yourself and as such, you are not as happy in your job.

I get that.

I definitely think his chances of putting up good numbers are better in Washington than they are in San Fran. I'm expecting a bit of a rebound in his stats. but I dont know if we will ever see a repeat of that 1400 yard year. I'm guessing hes a 1000 yard WR if he can stay healthy. Thats pretty good.

As a Deebo owner, that would make me ecstatic. My roster is set up where I really just need him to be a semi-routine flex play/bye week fill in stay competitive, and def agree at this point his chances are better in Washington than SF now. I wouldn't be shocked if they also take a RB with this loaded class, but they have so many needs who knows. If they don't, or even just invest late, hopefully Deebo gets some rushing work as well. That's when he really starts to accumulate some fantasy numbers.

with Ekeler and Robinson I dont see a huge need to fill RB. There are far more urgent areas of need for this team

in fact with two startable RB's its possible that Washingtons use of Deebo in the run game wont be what it was in San Fran. I'm sure they will still keep a few plays in there for him but they will likely come out on special occasions.

(at least that's how I'd do it. no point giving Deebo any more wear and tear on the body than you need to.)

Washington has some need on Defense, and I wouldnt mind if they upgraded the O line. I was actually surprised the O line was as good as it was last year cuz I felt they were pretty bad the year before.

either way, the O line isnt on fire, but some parts of the Defense likely are. so that's probably the direction they will go as that is the largest area of need. though in round 1 I am a believer in taking the best player available regardless of position, and if the best player avalable isnt an area of need you should explore a trade down.

either way it will be very interesting to see which direction they go.

 

[Ray_T]

DK Metcalf
Puka Nacua
DJ Moore
Tyreek Hill
Tee Higgins
Marvin Harrison Jr...just as a point of reference

All of these WRs failed to clear 1,000 yd receiving for a variety of reasons
Deebo is closing in on 30 yrs of age, has not avoided injuries the last 3 seasons, 2 of which he fails to clear 700 yds receiving
And people are open to him hitting the Top 25 in '25?
I'm not there and would prefer a younger WR with more upside

I get where you are coming from. What I like about this is they likely dont need to train the guy. Shanny is very demanding of his WR. if you dont block, or if you dont run the routes the way they should be, you just dont play. so from that perspective you are getting a guy you wont need to train up. and for a young QB having a WR who does the things they are supposed to do is priceless.

I am concerned about his health, but I've also mentioned on this and other threads. San Fran as a franchise has an injury problem. it seems like every other year, they are riddled with injuries. I do not know what the cause is, but I'm inclined to think part of this is either the field in San Fran or the way they go through their training.

Yes Deebo has been hurt and that is concerning for sure. but it is also possible that the source of the problem is now not a factor.

I am not super concerned with top 25 in total stats. in fantasy points per game I still want him to be top 25 and I think that is achievable. So long as he doesnt miss too many games. if he misses a couple like he did the last couple years I"m looking at likely 900 yards give or take. if he plays the full season I'm thinking around 1000. There is more upside and downside there but I wouldnt bet on that. What you are getting is a fairly stable and solid WR2 and the cap hit isnt offensive. due to the stupid way they did the contract with voidable years, San Fran is still taking a considerable cap hit even with him gone. Granted I understand why San Fran did that. they figured their superbowl window was gonna remain open for only a couple more years and this bought them that time and kept Deebo from walking at a time when he was likely going out the door. but I dont like that contract for San Fran.

either way, I guess we will find out one way or another if Washington was smart to make this move.

 

[menobrown]

Article I read earlier today, linked below if someone wants to read the whole thing, details some struggles he's had with this weight. I think I said somewhere in this thread after he retires and is out of the league a few years I think he's going to look like a mini OL. Not kidding, I'll bet he'll be a 280 plus pound guy when he's been out of the league a few years, it's a real struggle for him.

Article starts off by saying SF fell in love with him when Kyle coached him at the Senior Bowl where he was 214 pounds. When he showed up after they drafted him he had ballooned up a little. They put Welker in charge of working with him with goal of getting down to 210-212. Said Deebo never shirked from the work, which included him arriving an hour early every day to do a two mile run and doing wind sprints after practice. But he still could not get the weight down and so they moved his target weight to 220.

That was then.

This is what the article says happened last year:

A big issue was Samuel’s weight. He had pneumonia in Week 7, and an array of injuries — calf, ribs, oblique and wrist — throughout the year kept him out of practices. And when Samuel didn’t practice, he gained weight. A lot of weight. Let’s just say he crossed that 220-pound threshold with gusto and at one point tipped the scales at what you might want your starting tight end to be.

My take: Deebo has to work very very hard to keep his weight down but he's shown a willingness to do it. Now on a new team in a contract year and I think he's going to bust his *** to get that weight down. Which he did last off-season before the illness and injuries derailed him.

One-time 49ers star Deebo Samuel comes to Washington with a weight on his shoulders

Samuel's weight was an issue when he arrived in Santa Clara, Calif., in 2019 and it was problematic last season, his worst as a 49er.

www.nytimes.com

 

[thecatch]

Article I read earlier today, linked below if someone wants to read the whole thing, details some struggles he's had with this weight. I think I said somewhere in this thread after he retires and is out of the league a few years I think he's going to look like a mini OL. Not kidding, I'll bet he'll be a 280 plus pound guy when he's been out of the league a few years, it's a real struggle for him.

Article starts off by saying SF fell in love with him when Kyle coached him at the Senior Bowl where he was 214 pounds. When he showed up after they drafted him he had ballooned up a little. They put Welker in charge of working with him with goal of getting down to 210-212. Said Deebo never shirked from the work, which included him arriving an hour early every day to do a two mile run and doing wind sprints after practice. But he still could not get the weight down and so they moved his target weight to 220.

That was then.

This is what the article says happened last year:

A big issue was Samuel’s weight. He had pneumonia in Week 7, and an array of injuries — calf, ribs, oblique and wrist — throughout the year kept him out of practices. And when Samuel didn’t practice, he gained weight. A lot of weight. Let’s just say he crossed that 220-pound threshold with gusto and at one point tipped the scales at what you might want your starting tight end to be.

My take: Deebo has to work very very hard to keep his weight down but he's shown a willingness to do it. Now on a new team in a contract year and I think he's going to bust his *** to get that weight down. Which he did last off-season before the illness and injuries derailed him.

One-time 49ers star Deebo Samuel comes to Washington with a weight on his shoulders

Samuel's weight was an issue when he arrived in Santa Clara, Calif., in 2019 and it was problematic last season, his worst as a 49er.

www.nytimes.com

Saw that article too. I know he was hurt/sick, but he gained 30-40 lbs real fast.

 

[pinkstapler]

I think the one point people are overlooking for SF outside of the cap space and draft pick return is that Deebo wants to not only play, but be a significant part of the offense. Yet they just paid Aiyuk a ton, still are getting nearly 100 targets a season to Kittle, have CMC eating up nearly 350 touches a season, and (granted in a very limited sample) have a rookie who went 14/18 for 210 yds and 2 TDs the last two weeks of the season (after recovering from a gun shot wound to the chest literally a week before the season started).

I wouldn't call Deebo a prima donna or crybaby; but he also has a history of being vocal about his playing time and usage when he felt there was a need to do so. I don't think it was the only reason he was moved, but IMO it's a significant one. Shannahan has the reputation as a "my way or the highway" coach who expects players to fit into his scheme, not the other way around. I don't see him putting up with noise, or even guys who aren't buying into his plan 110%. This is why I think there's some merit to them also trading Aiyuk, even after this Deebo move. I'd bet a paycheck he's still salty about the song and dance routine Aiyuk put the team through to get his contract.

oh no, it was clearly a too many mouths to feed situation. no doubt about that. and Deebo wants to be the lead dog (or at least one of them)

I dont fault a guy for wanting to play a significant role. if you feel like all your skillset is not being utilized its tough to feel like you are your best version of yourself and as such, you are not as happy in your job.

I get that.

I definitely think his chances of putting up good numbers are better in Washington than they are in San Fran. I'm expecting a bit of a rebound in his stats. but I dont know if we will ever see a repeat of that 1400 yard year. I'm guessing hes a 1000 yard WR if he can stay healthy. Thats pretty good.

As a Deebo owner, that would make me ecstatic. My roster is set up where I really just need him to be a semi-routine flex play/bye week fill in stay competitive, and def agree at this point his chances are better in Washington than SF now. I wouldn't be shocked if they also take a RB with this loaded class, but they have so many needs who knows. If they don't, or even just invest late, hopefully Deebo gets some rushing work as well. That's when he really starts to accumulate some fantasy numbers.

with Ekeler and Robinson I dont see a huge need to fill RB. There are far more urgent areas of need for this team

in fact with two startable RB's its possible that Washingtons use of Deebo in the run game wont be what it was in San Fran. I'm sure they will still keep a few plays in there for him but they will likely come out on special occasions.

(at least that's how I'd do it. no point giving Deebo any more wear and tear on the body than you need to.)

Washington has some need on Defense, and I wouldnt mind if they upgraded the O line. I was actually surprised the O line was as good as it was last year cuz I felt they were pretty bad the year before.

either way, the O line isnt on fire, but some parts of the Defense likely are. so that's probably the direction they will go as that is the largest area of need. though in round 1 I am a believer in taking the best player available regardless of position, and if the best player avalable isnt an area of need you should explore a trade down.

either way it will be very interesting to see which direction they go.

Yeah I totally get that bolded thought with Deebo, but a bigger part of me thinks that's just what his game is. So if you aren't going to give him 3-4 rushes a game, set him up with screens 4-5 times, and have him as the relief valve on all the play action they love to run there.... well why pick him up at all? That's what he's elite (or at least was elite) at. I can see trying to keep other players in bubble wrap, but Deebo feels like the guy who you use until he's broken. My biggest worry is SF already did that and the Commanders just bought a lemon. As a Deebo owner I hope that's not the case. I think he works perfectly in Quinns offense and will complement Jaydens strengths.

 

[Ray_T]

I think the one point people are overlooking for SF outside of the cap space and draft pick return is that Deebo wants to not only play, but be a significant part of the offense. Yet they just paid Aiyuk a ton, still are getting nearly 100 targets a season to Kittle, have CMC eating up nearly 350 touches a season, and (granted in a very limited sample) have a rookie who went 14/18 for 210 yds and 2 TDs the last two weeks of the season (after recovering from a gun shot wound to the chest literally a week before the season started).

I wouldn't call Deebo a prima donna or crybaby; but he also has a history of being vocal about his playing time and usage when he felt there was a need to do so. I don't think it was the only reason he was moved, but IMO it's a significant one. Shannahan has the reputation as a "my way or the highway" coach who expects players to fit into his scheme, not the other way around. I don't see him putting up with noise, or even guys who aren't buying into his plan 110%. This is why I think there's some merit to them also trading Aiyuk, even after this Deebo move. I'd bet a paycheck he's still salty about the song and dance routine Aiyuk put the team through to get his contract.

oh no, it was clearly a too many mouths to feed situation. no doubt about that. and Deebo wants to be the lead dog (or at least one of them)

I dont fault a guy for wanting to play a significant role. if you feel like all your skillset is not being utilized its tough to feel like you are your best version of yourself and as such, you are not as happy in your job.

I get that.

I definitely think his chances of putting up good numbers are better in Washington than they are in San Fran. I'm expecting a bit of a rebound in his stats. but I dont know if we will ever see a repeat of that 1400 yard year. I'm guessing hes a 1000 yard WR if he can stay healthy. Thats pretty good.

As a Deebo owner, that would make me ecstatic. My roster is set up where I really just need him to be a semi-routine flex play/bye week fill in stay competitive, and def agree at this point his chances are better in Washington than SF now. I wouldn't be shocked if they also take a RB with this loaded class, but they have so many needs who knows. If they don't, or even just invest late, hopefully Deebo gets some rushing work as well. That's when he really starts to accumulate some fantasy numbers.

with Ekeler and Robinson I dont see a huge need to fill RB. There are far more urgent areas of need for this team

in fact with two startable RB's its possible that Washingtons use of Deebo in the run game wont be what it was in San Fran. I'm sure they will still keep a few plays in there for him but they will likely come out on special occasions.

(at least that's how I'd do it. no point giving Deebo any more wear and tear on the body than you need to.)

Washington has some need on Defense, and I wouldnt mind if they upgraded the O line. I was actually surprised the O line was as good as it was last year cuz I felt they were pretty bad the year before.

either way, the O line isnt on fire, but some parts of the Defense likely are. so that's probably the direction they will go as that is the largest area of need. though in round 1 I am a believer in taking the best player available regardless of position, and if the best player avalable isnt an area of need you should explore a trade down.

either way it will be very interesting to see which direction they go.

Yeah I totally get that bolded thought with Deebo, but a bigger part of me thinks that's just what his game is. So if you aren't going to give him 3-4 rushes a game, set him up with screens 4-5 times, and have him as the relief valve on all the play action they love to run there.... well why pick him up at all? That's what he's elite (or at least was elite) at. I can see trying to keep other players in bubble wrap, but Deebo feels like the guy who you use until he's broken. My biggest worry is SF already did that and the Commanders just bought a lemon. As a Deebo owner I hope that's not the case. I think he works perfectly in Quinns offense and will complement Jaydens strengths.

Well only time will tell. one thing I will say for sure....... Deebos salary (and cap hit) was too high relative to the production he had last year.

granted sometimes a bad year is just a bad year. and everything in San Fran went south last year so maybe there is something to that.

If Washington gets the same production from him this may not necessarily be a good buy. but he is in a contract year, and I do love guys who are playing for a contract. so maybe it will work out.

 

[Wingnut]

Deebo releases heartfelt farewell letter to the 49ers and their fans.

THANK YOU, SAN FRANCISCO | By Deebo Samuel

You made a kid from Spartanburg, South Carolina’s dreams come true.

www.theplayerstribune.com

 

[Faust]

Deebo Samuel: I'll repay Commanders' 'trust in me' after trade

 

[Faust]

@32BeatWriters
"Deebo Samuel is gelling well with his new wide receiver teammates and was routinely at the front of the line for individual drills. He and Daniels didn't connect much, but it's clear they are already developing their rapport. Daniels aired out a pass to Samuel, who had a step on the defender, near the front corner of the end zone. Although it resulted in an incompletion, it was a good sign of what could be in the duo's future."

https://x.com/32beatwriters/status/1927829536197984569?s=61

 

[dipandglide]

I'll always love Deebo. The guy is ferocious when healthy, but his play style was unlikely to lead to a long, productive career. I'm happy I hopped off the train last year. He's not someone I'd buy low on unless you're paying a late 2nd (superflex).

 

[travdogg]

I'll always love Deebo. The guy is ferocious when healthy, but his play style was unlikely to lead to a long, productive career. I'm happy I hopped off the train last year. He's not someone I'd buy low on unless you're paying a late 2nd (superflex).

Love him in redraft though, as a WR4 in an ascendent offense.

 

[BoltNlava]

I'll always love Deebo. The guy is ferocious when healthy, but his play style was unlikely to lead to a long, productive career. I'm happy I hopped off the train last year. He's not someone I'd buy low on unless you're paying a late 2nd (superflex).

Love him in redraft though, as a WR4 in an ascendent offense.

IDK..seems like a fools errand. We will soon see. he's always hurt or limited.

 

[travdogg]

I'll always love Deebo. The guy is ferocious when healthy, but his play style was unlikely to lead to a long, productive career. I'm happy I hopped off the train last year. He's not someone I'd buy low on unless you're paying a late 2nd (superflex).

Love him in redraft though, as a WR4 in an ascendent offense.

IDK..seems like a fools errand. We will soon see. he's always hurt or limited.

Or a league winner, like he was in 2021 and 2023.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I'll always love Deebo. The guy is ferocious when healthy, but his play style was unlikely to lead to a long, productive career. I'm happy I hopped off the train last year. He's not someone I'd buy low on unless you're paying a late 2nd (superflex).

Love him in redraft though, as a WR4 in an ascendent offense.

I am holding in a 16 team league where I have an aging but competitive team.

I think he’s a perfect fit in that offense and will provide a reliable YAC target for Daniels underneath, and take some heat off McLaurin deep at times.

A WR2 season is likely his upside, but barring injury I don’t think he’s worse than a WR4

Love him in redraft depending on ADP. BB, too.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Or a league winner, like he was in 2021 and 2023.

Yep. I’ve had several league-mates try to buy low on him. Nope. I don’t have the depth to lose him.

 

[thecatch]

I'll always love Deebo. The guy is ferocious when healthy, but his play style was unlikely to lead to a long, productive career. I'm happy I hopped off the train last year. He's not someone I'd buy low on unless you're paying a late 2nd (superflex).

Love him in redraft though, as a WR4 in an ascendent offense.

IDK..seems like a fools errand. We will soon see. he's always hurt or limited.

I think he’s washed. Will have a couple monster games but will mostly be disappointing.

 

[menobrown]

I'll always love Deebo. The guy is ferocious when healthy, but his play style was unlikely to lead to a long, productive career. I'm happy I hopped off the train last year. He's not someone I'd buy low on unless you're paying a late 2nd (superflex).

Love him in redraft though, as a WR4 in an ascendent offense.

IDK..seems like a fools errand. We will soon see. he's always hurt or limited.

Seems like a bit of an overly strong and exaggerated stance.

I'm more of a PPG kind of person but using total points is probably a better reflection of performance and availability and in my leagues he's finished as:

2021-WR3
2022-WR33
2023-WR14
2024-WR41

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I think he’s washed. Will have a couple monster games but will mostly be disappointing

Lot of Niner fans I know feel the same. I think he was disgruntled, and that the 2024 49ers weren’t a very effective offense.

Without CMC, playcalling became more vanilla, and Deebo’s runs were entirely predictable. Basically if he was in the backfield he got the ball & ran into a wall.

You might be right. I’m definitely not in agreement.

 

[menobrown]

I think he’s washed. Will have a couple monster games but will mostly be disappointing

Lot of Niner fans I know feel the same. I think he was disgruntled, and that the 2024 49ers weren’t a very effective offense.

Without CMC, playcalling became more vanilla, and Deebo’s runs were entirely predictable. Basically if he was in the backfield he got the ball & ran into a wall.

You might be right. I’m definitely not in agreement.

Me either but I think I already had this convo with thecatch.

Summary version is multiple beat writes said he looked incredible heading into last season. Started the year with a bang, got hurt, got hospitalized with pneumonia and due to being hurt and ill it impacted his abilty to work out and he ballooned up.

You don't have an awesome training camp, come out blazing and then are washed within weeks. That's now how these things work. People have to think this stuff through a little better and put their emotions over him letting them down last year aside.

 

[FarFromHome]

Let me open with I love Deebo. Just plays the game how I want a football player to play. Just a monster. Having said that, I just feel like when he does drop in his play it's gonna be fast and hard. I'd personally move him if I owned him . Although someone mentioned him as a wr4. That would be nice and maybe I'd hold hoping for one more payout.