"Deebo Samuel Trade Grades: Who Came Out on Top in the Commanders-49ers Trade?"

 "Deebo Samuel Trade Grades: Who Came Out on Top in the Commanders-49ers Trade?"

The Washington Commanders are all-in on quarterback Jayden Daniels' potential, reportedly acquiring wide receiver Deebo Samuel in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Commanders will send a fifth-round draft pick to the 49ers in exchange for the former Pro Bowl wideout.

Samuel will team up with standout receiver Terry McLaurin, giving Washington a dynamic one-two punch in the passing game.

For San Francisco, trading Samuel clears his contract off the books for the future while adding an additional draft pick to their arsenal.

Let’s break down this trade and analyze how it impacts both Washington and San Francisco.

The Commanders did exactly what teams with star quarterbacks on rookie contracts should do: they capitalized on their available cap space and draft resources to bring in a legitimate playmaker for the offense.

Samuel is a perfect fit for Washington's offensive scheme, offering quarterback Jayden Daniels a reliable veteran option in the passing game. Additionally, Samuel can help ease the burden on Daniels in the run game, as offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can design packages that allow Samuel to line up at running back.

Though Samuel hasn't played a fully healthy season throughout his career, he's been available for at least 13 games every year except for 2020. With McLaurin drawing top coverage from opposing secondaries, Samuel should have ample opportunity to shine. Taking on some of Samuel's salary is an easy call for the cap-rich Commanders.

This is a solid move for Washington, assuming Samuel can maintain his typical availability despite his injury history. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, this is a smart and impactful decision.

Grade: A

The 49ers have a young and talented wide receiver group, which makes trading away Deebo Samuel a bit easier to digest.

However, receiving just a fifth-round pick in exchange for such a key piece of their offense has to sting a little.

That said, San Francisco was in a tricky spot with Samuel’s contract, and getting Washington to take on over $20 million of his salary helps with future financial flexibility. Last year’s rookie receivers, Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing, are set to take on more significant roles, and Jauan Jennings should continue to be a key part of the offense. The team also has the cap space to bring in a new starter and additional draft resources to replenish the position.

With reports that San Francisco is also open to trading Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers may be shifting toward a youth movement in the passing game. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, losing Samuel will require some adjustment.

To be fair to the 49ers, with an offensive genius like Kyle Shanahan calling the plays, they should be able to weather this loss over time. However, the draft compensation they received seems a bit underwhelming compared to the caliber of player Samuel is, at least for now.

Such is the reality when trading veteran non-quarterback players approaching 30 in the NFL.