Commanders can prove patience is a virtue by calling the bluff that is Deebo Samuel's trade request
The Washington Commanders are going to be linked to just about every big-name trade candidate or impending free agent over the next few weeks and it's easy to see why.The Commanders are one of the NFL's hottest teams and they have plenty of cap space (and draft picks) to make a big move, or moves, […]
The Washington Commanders are going to be linked to just about every big-name trade candidate or impending free agent over the next few weeks and it's easy to see why.
The Commanders are one of the NFL's hottest teams and they have plenty of cap space (and draft picks) to make a big move, or moves, once the legal tampering period begins on March 10. Plus, word came out last season about how players want to play for Dan Quinn in Washington. So, the burgundy and gold should be quite the attraction this offseason.
The WR2 position is one that really needs an upgrade, therefore a lot of big names have already been linked (through speculation) to the Commanders. One in particular is San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel, who recently requested -and was given permission- to seek a trade.
Samuel is one of the more uniquely-talented wide receivers in the NFL and he'd be a good fit in Kliff Kingsbury's offense. There's also his connection with Commanders GM Adam Peters, who was with Samuel in San Francisco from 2019-2023. He'd certainly fill the role of WR2 opposite Terry McLauren and he'd also allow Kingsbury to dial up some creative plays that take advantage of his skillset.
Obviously, a trade means the Commanders have to give up something on their end, which isn't the most ideal situation. Especially when considering the fact Samuel hasn't produced anywhere close to his electric 2021 season and he's missed eight games over the last three seasons. But, that can easily be avoided if the Commanders just remain patient.
That's because, realistically, it's going to be extremely hard for the 49ers to trade Samuel due to the structure of his contract. If he's traded today, San Fran would actually lose $15,680,389 in cap space. Again, they wouldn't save anything – they'd lose money. And that's not just a couple thousand dollars, it's nearly $16 million.
The option that makes the most sense is to designate Samuel as a post-June 1 cut, where the 9ers would then save $5,117,870 in cap room and then pay the remaining $20,798,259 in dead money in 2026. That's an extra $5-million-and-change to help pay Brock Purdy this offseason, which is what should happen based off reports surrounding the situation.
If we have access to this information, every other NFL GM has access to it. Therefore, they know the waiting game is the right path, here. The added bonus with Samuel's hypothetical release is his new team won't have to take on his current contract – they'll be able to work out their own deal that doesn't include the current $15.4 million-plus option bonus due on March 22.
What happens if the 49ers can't trade Deebo Samuel Sr.?
Well, I'm pretty sure we're going to find out — because from a cap standpoint, they really can't trade him. Because of the way they've restructured Samuel's deal over the years, the 49ers would take on $31.55 million in dead money cap charges for 2025 if they traded Samuel. That number would go up to about $47 million if they traded him after his March 22 option bonus came due, so this will obviously play itself out before then.
Releasing Samuel before March 22 and designating him as a post-June 1 cut is the only reasonable way for the 49ers to go here. It would result in a dead cap hit of roughly $10.75 million this season, and the remaining $20.8 million or so in dead money would go on their 2026 cap. – Dan Graziano, ESPN
It just makes way too much sense and honestly, trading for Samuel while knowing this information would make it a very bad move, even if he's let go for a seventh-rounder in 2027. It's clear the 49ers are going to move on, especially when considering they one more post-June 1 designation after they use the other one on defensive lineman Javon Hargrave.
Peters knows this and it'll be interesting to see if he goes after Samuel once the move is made.
