Daily Slop – 2 Mar 25 – Everybody’s talkin’ ‘bout Deebo!

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders

Commanders links

Articles

ESPN

Deebo Samuel gives Jayden Daniels a needed weapon in 2025

“Can he be healthy and available?” the coach asked.

And that’s the big question no one can answer until Samuel suits up for the Commanders after being traded from the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. It’s not that Samuel misses a lot of games — he has missed a combined nine in the past four years. It’s about the cumulative toll of his physical style as he creeps into his 30s. And it’s ultimately why Washington only needed to send a fifth-round pick to acquire the former All-Pro from the 49ers.

But Washington has bet on veteran stars before — and it paid off. Last offseason, the franchise signed linebacker Bobby Wagner, tight end Zach Ertz and running back Austin Ekeler. Wagner and Ertz started every game and all three were productive, with Wagner earning second-team All-Pro honors. Ekeler also had strong numbers, though he did miss five games.

Samuel, 29, is eight months younger than Ekeler, and arrives with an intriguing skill set that can be enhanced, or at least properly utilized, under Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. He and quarterback Jayden Daniels had the NFL’s fifth highest-scoring offense last season.

49ers deal Deebo Samuel to Commanders, sources say

Washington averaged 5.1 yards after the catch last season, ranking 21st. Samuel has excelled on underneath routes and averages 9.0 yards after the catch for his career.

That should help Daniels, who was the runaway Offensive Rookie of the Year. He threw for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Samuel finished 2024 with 806 scrimmages yards and four touchdowns, both of which were career lows (save for a 2020 season in which he played just seven games). He dealt with calf, wrist, oblique and rib injuries and had an illness that cost him two games and parts of others.

Perhaps most alarming for the Niners was Samuel’s rushing production dropped dramatically. After averaging 6.2 yards per carry when he emerged as the Niners’ “wide back” in 2021, he managed just 3.2 yards in 2024.

Samuel’s frustration with his and the team’s struggles boiled over a couple of times in 2024. In a November win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Samuel confronted kicker Jake Moody after his third missed field goal of the game. When long snapper Taybor Pepper stepped in to defend Moody, it led to a back and forth with some minor shoves before the sides were separated.

After that game, Samuel said he was “just frustrated in the heat of battle” and “kind of got out of character a little bit.”

In December, Samuel tweeted that he was “not struggling at all just not getting the ball!” as complaints about his lack of production began to accumulate.

Speaking to media the day after the season ended in January, Samuel said he “had no questions at all” about his future in San Francisco. As it turned out, Samuel would again request a trade in his season-ending meeting with Shanahan.

2025 NFL free agency, trade grades: Deebo Samuel to Commanders

Commanders get: WR Deebo Samuel Sr.

49ers get: 2025 fifth-round pick

• Commanders grade: B
• 49ers grade: B+

It’s time for the Commanders, flush with cap space and in Year 2 of the Jayden Daniels era, to push their chips in the middle of the table. And receiver is a clear position of need behind Terry McLaurin, particularly with late-season breakout Dyami Brown being an impending free agent.

Samuel appears to be a nice fit in Washington’s offense; he provides another threat close to the line of scrimmage and can complement Daniels’ running prowess. Washington’s 4.6 expected YAC per reception last season wasn’t amazing, but it was better than the 49ers’ 4.3 (sixth worst). And 11% of Washington’s wide receiver targets came on screens (third highest). You’d expect more next season with Samuel surely receiving many.

On the other hand, if the Commanders enter the season with Samuel as their No. 2 wide receiver, that would be a weakness — and I would think less of this deal. I’ll grade under the assumption that the Commanders jumped at this opportunity with the intention to add another solid receiver later in the offseason (either in free agency or early in the draft).

Isn’t $17.6 million and a fifth-round pick for a one-year rental of a No. 3 wide receiver a lot to pay? You bet. But the circumstances dictate the Commanders’ aggression to add playmakers, and Samuel provides offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury the ability to add wrinkles to what was already a successful offense in 2024.

Betting buzz: Commanders, 49ers Super Bowl odds following Deebo Samuel trade

March 1: Commanders Super Bowl odds shorten after Deebo Samuel trade

The Washington Commanders solidified themselves among NFC betting favorites for the Super Bowl after their trade for San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. The Commanders were 20-1 in early odds and 18-1 entering the weekend, shortening to 16-1 after the trade. Their odds to win the NFC to go to the Super Bowl shortened from +850 to +800.

The market does not see this move as a sign that the 49ers are preparing to rebuild; they are +650 to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl and 13-1 to win it all, behind only the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles (+600) and Detroit Lions (+850) in the NFC.

---

Over the Cap

Commanders Trade for Deebo Samuel

The 49ers will take on a massive amount of dead money with the trade- $31.02 million. This big number came about because the 49ers had to do some salary cap gymnastics the last few years and Samuel was one of the players whose contract was almost all made up of prorated money pushed into future years and void years in the contract. The team will lose about $15.2 million in cap room this year with the trade but they will save $17.55 million in salary and whatever contract headaches that may have come up in the summer if Samuel wanted an extension.

Washington, who is salary cap rich and can afford to take on some contract risk, will pick up Samuel’s $17.55 million salary. Samuel technically has an option in his contract that is due in mid March but my assumption is the 49ers will either renounce the option or rework his contract prior to the trade to remove it to avoid having to take on the proration from the option as dead money this year. If the option is not utilized Samuel’s cap number for Washington will be $17.55 million. If the option is included then his cap charge will only be $5.206 million this year and the remaining $12.344 will be put into void years starting in 2026. Given that the Commanders are expected to have over $80 million in cap room it would make sense to just take the hit now.

The next question will be whether or not Samuel seeks an extension prior to the season.

---

The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders acquiring Deebo Samuel from 49ers in exchange for fifth-round draft pick: Source

Washington’s up-tempo offense ranked fifth with 28 1/2 points per game last season despite limited weaponry around rookie quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels outside of McLaurin. The next four receivers in the rotation are all free agents, leaving McLaurin and 2024 third-rounder Luke McCaffrey on the roster. Meanwhile, the backfield combination of Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler is solid, but lacks explosiveness.

Samuel will help both groups, when healthy. Rib and calf injuries were the nagging ailments during the 2024 campaign. Unless Washington’s medical staff has concerns before the trade becomes official, this deal came down to the opinion of the Commanders’ front office leader.

General Manager Adam Peters ran San Francisco’s drafts, including the 2019 edition with Samuel going in the second round. Nobody will know the player and the person better. The Commanders overcame any talent gap last season by forging a competitive group. Samuel’s aggressive style fits that mindset and game planning.

“We want to attack, man,” Quinn said at the combine. “However we can find ways to go do that, we will. We ran the most no huddle snaps in the league. That’s part of our edge. …So, finding guys that can attack, play in space, play with quickness, be violent in the cuts. Those are things at all the spots, running back, tight end, receivers that we want to do.”

---

Commanders.com

Combine notebook | DBs impress with blazing 40 times

We’re in the second half of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The offensive linemen rounded out the media availability on Saturday, and the wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks are set to conduct on-field drills later today. The tight ends and safeties were also at Lucas Oil Stadium Friday night and put on a show for those in attendance.

Let’s look at some of the highlights.

— Speed was the biggest takeaway from the defensive backs during their on-field workouts, as every single prospect who participated in the 40-yard dash ran a 4.59 or faster. Sitting at the top was Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston, who had the fastest time up to this point with a 4.29. Hairston, who had six interceptions and two defensive touchdowns in his final two seasons with the Wildcats, is on the small side at 183 pounds, but his motions were smooth during drills and good awareness for the ball. His size might be an issue against bigger wideouts, but he does have the athleticism to keep up with them at the professional level.

— South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori, regarded as one of the top two safeties in the class, might have moved up to the top of his position after an exceptional combine performance. He had the fastest 10-yard split among safeties, which helped him run a 4.38, and paired that with a 43-inch vertical as well as an 11-foot-6 broad jump. Emmanwori’s production was a bit uneven at times in college, but his 244 tackles and six interceptions are clear signs that he’s one of the most productive players in his class.

---

Podcasts & videos

---

---

NFC East links

Blogging the Boys

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined multiple opportunities to speak while at the combine

Jerry Jones declined his usual NFL Combine appearance which feels strange.

Jerry Jones has an annual tradition of speaking to members of the media while on the team bus in Indy as opposed to behind a lectern in the middle of the standard chaos. Strangely, that did not happen this year.

Consider that last year Jerry spoke on the pending contractual situations (at the time) for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. We know how those things turned out, but the point here is that Jerry took the opportunity he had to speak and push the narrative that he wanted about those situations.

It was reported on Friday that Jerry would not be doing his usual bus sit down which was strange enough. What’s more is that on Saturday, The Athletic’s Jon Machota added that Jerry also declined to speak while leaving the team’s hotel in Indianapolis.

No one is trying to suggest that this has to mean something. For what it’s worth, 105.3 The Fan’s Bobby Belt added that it definitely feels strange enough that you have to wonder if something is up.

Belt added in a second post that Jerry cancelled media availability on local radio prior to trading for Amari Cooper 6.5 years ago (wow, cannot believe it has been that long). Jerry’s defense (after the fact, obviously) was that he couldn’t keep his mouth shut (he said this tongue in cheek) and that he didn’t want to ruin anything.

Maybe this is something along those lines or maybe it is nothing. Whatever it is or isn’t it feels fair to say that this is all uncommon behavior from Jerry Jones.

---

Big Blue View

Aaron Rodgers? Really? The New York Giants must enjoy being laughed at

Desperate times lead to desperate measures … but, this desperate?

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on Friday that the Giants were “shifting their interest” to Rodgers. Adam Schefter reported that the Giants “are investigating all veteran quarterback options…..including Aaron Rodgers.”

Schefter’s information is almost exactly the same as what I was told by a Giants source, which was that the Giants were “doing their homework on all options.”

I took that to mean Rodgers had not been ruled out, but that he wasn’t at the front of the line, either.

Maybe that has changed. Let’s hope not.

Signing Rodgers would be a desperation play by Schoen and Daboll. It would be the kind of short-sighted, self-preservation ‘Hail Mary’ that Schoen promised not to make this offseason despite understanding fully the kind of heat he would be under to field a better product in 2025.

More importantly, a move for the egotistical, spotlight-seeking, shell of the quarterback he once was 41-year-old Rodgers would almost certainly fail spectacularly. And get Schoen and Daboll fired.

Can you imagine the Giants scooping up the leftovers of the Little Brother New York Jets? Trying to rescue their franchise by taking the same path that was a miserable failure for the last two years, only with an older, less healthy, less talented, more desperate to hook on somewhere Rodgers? The Giants had a front-row seat to the disaster that was Rodgers to the Jets. It is hard to fathom they would be foolish enough to try the same thing.

---

The Athletic (paywall)

Russini’s what I’m hearing: Garrett’s potential path to Philly, Stafford effect on QB market

On Garrett, the Browns have remained consistent since his trade request went public six days before the Super Bowl: They are not listening to offers. If the Browns change their minds, I expect movement to happen as the draft nears and Cleveland GM Andrew Berry has to make tough roster decisions.

I’m told the Philadelphia Eagles’ interest in Garrett is real. As fearsome as Philly’s defense was in the Super Bowl, imagine adding the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year?

“Garrett could be this year’s version of Saquon Barkley for Howie [Roseman],” one NFL GM said. “He’s an impact add and isn’t a free-agent overpay. Howie’s not afraid to try stuff, and it fits where they are as a team.”

How would the Eagles come up with room to fit Garrett? By letting some key members of their Super Bowl-winning group walk. Linebacker Zack Baun was a free-agent gem Roseman found last offseason, but he is now poised to cash in. Baun, edge rusher Josh Sweat, DT Milton Williams and guard Mekhi Becton headline Philly’s free agent class, and bringing all or even some of them back could prove challenging, especially if Garrett enters the picture — and you can be certain Roseman will have Philly in the conversation for Garrett.

---

NFL league links

Articles

NFL.com

NFL combine: What We Learned during Saturday’s activities in Indianapolis

RBs put up eye-popping numbers. Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten nearly hit the running back Triple Crown during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, leading the position group in the 40-yard dash and vertical jump and barely missing the top spot among RBs in the broad jump.

The 5-foot-9 1/4, 206-pound Tuten ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash, improving on his first attempt (4.38) by a notable measure.

Tuten’s 4.32 matched the number put up by De’Von Achane in 2023, which tied for the fourth-best RB time at the combine since 2013. Only Chris Johnson (4.24 seconds in 2008), Dri Archer (4.26 in 2014) and Keith Marshall (4.31 in 2016) have registered faster times in that span.

Tuten’s vertical jump of 40.5 inches ranks in the top 15 among backs since 2013. It was tied for the sixth-best vertical jump overall at this year’s combine by the end of Saturday’s events.

Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins turned in the best broad jump among the backs, leaping 11 feet. Right behind him were Tuten, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, who all came in at 10-foot-10. The broad-jump numbers are particularly strong, with Judkins tying for sixth and Tuten, Hampton and Giddens tying for 11th since 2013.

Other noteworthy 40 times included Texas’ Jaydon Blue (4.38), SMU’s Brashard Smith (4.39) and UCF’s RJ Harvey (4.40). But at 206 pounds, Tuten was the heaviest among the fastest runners, making his strong showing Saturday all the more impressive.

A Senior Bowl participant, Tuten ran for 3,600 yards and scored 52 touchdowns in 46 career games (35 starts). He spent his first two seasons at North Carolina A&T, followed by two more with the Hokies. He currently projects as a possible mid-round pick.

---

All aTwitter

---