ESPN analyst urges Kansas City Chiefs to sign free agent WR Deebo Samuel, but they already have ‘Deebo Samuel at home’ on the roster
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to be linked to free-agent wide receivers amid uncertainty surrounding Rashee Rice. ESPN’s latest idea misses the mark and creates redundancy with two different second-year players.
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to be connected to free agent wide receivers as uncertainty around WR Rashee Rice’s situation continues.
In ESPN’s recent ‘one final offseason move for all 32 teams‘ piece, analyst Aaron Schatz pitches Kansas City on WR Deebo Samuel. The former San Francisco 49ers star, who spent 2025 in Washington, remains a free agent in June. Schatz believes that Samuel is the perfect insurance plan for the Chiefs, should Rice face a suspension for his off-field conduct. He mentions that Samuel’s ability to take carries in the backfield, along with his threat as a receiver, makes him the gadget-type player Andy Reid usually goes for.
The Rashee Rice situation is fairly confusing for the Chiefs. Coach Andy Reid says that Rice will be healthy enough for training camp, but is he going to face a suspension from the league for off-field conduct? It would be good for the Chiefs to find another strong slot target who can be insurance for Rice and can provide wide receiver depth on the outside.
Enter veteran Samuel. He had a bit of an off 2025 season with a career-low 10.1 yards per reception with the Commanders, but he still managed to gain 727 receiving yards with five touchdowns. At age 30, there’s probably still something left in the tank, and his ability to also take carries from the backfield makes him extra fun for Reid to play with in his game-planning.
Aaron schatz
ESPN Analyst
What Schatz and other national media fail to realize is the Chiefs already have Rice insurance in the slot, as well as a player who fills the exact hybrid role that Schatz is pitching.
The Chiefs signing Deebo Samuel would be a disservice to Jalen Royals & Brashard Smith
Should the Chiefs face any more Rashee Rice antics off the field, Jalen Royals is the natural insurance option. He’s had a strong OTAs and mandatory minicamp, which should only give Kansas City more conviction to play the second-year receiver.
Beyond Royals, the Chiefs already have a running back/wide receiver combo player in Brashard Smith. He’s basically “Deebo Samuel at home.” Detractors will argue that Smith’s rookie season numbers don’t put him in the same conversation as Samuel. They certainly don’t spell slot insurance behind Rashee Rice. Smith only managed 151 yards on 44 carries last season (3.4 average). However, he recorded 25 catches, 172 receiving yards (6.9 avg), and one touchdown in 17 games in 2025. The receiving upside here is clear.
Smith is probably more Dexter McCluster than he is Deebo Samuel, and that’s OK. Andy Reid tasked Smith with transforming his body to become stronger this offseason. They don’t need him to be a high-volume back, but a change-of-pace runner, a versatile pass-catcher, and a special teams contributor.
Adding a player like Samuel would only upend the progress these two second-year players have made. It wouldn’t give them a chance for the growth and development they need to become real NFL contributors. It’d effectively be giving up on both Royals and Smith during the time that they’re prime to break out. I cannot see Kansas City doing this type of move without an injury or an indication from the league that Rice will miss significant playing time.
The real story behind Deebo Samuel’s June limbo and why it should give the Kansas City Chiefs pause
The real story behind Deebo’s June limbo is quite simple. The 30-year-old has increasingly dealt with injuries since the 2022 NFL season. Various lower- and upper-body injuries over four seasons have sapped the explosive element from his play. His 10.1 yds/rec was a career low in 2025 despite having the most targets in a single season since 2021. Samuel is confronting the reality of a market that’s quietly decided he’s past his prime.
The Chiefs continue to be urged to add to the wide receiver room. They need to be cautious here. They don’t need a veteran stopgap; rather, they should be on the lookout for long-term solutions. Rashee Rice’s unreliability is more of a detriment to the long-term health of the receiver room.