Deebo Samuel: I'll repay Commanders 'trust in me' after trade
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John Keim
- Mar 20, 2025, 04:28 PM ET
After the Washington Commanders traded for him, then guaranteed the last year of his contract receiver Deebo Samuel said he wants to repay the belief he says they've shown in him.
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ASHBURN, Va. -- After the
Washington Commanders traded for him, then
guaranteed the last year of his contract receiver
Deebo Samuel said he wants to repay the belief he says they've shown in him.
"They put this much trust in me," Samuel said. "I can't come in here and let them down."
Washington acquired Samuel from San Francisco for a fifth-round pick in a deal agreed upon on March 1 and made official 11 days later. Samuel had requested a trade after the season.
Washington declined his option bonus of $15.4 million that would have allowed the Commanders to spread out his cap hit over two seasons by adding another year to his deal - but which would have been automatically voided.
Instead, the Commanders guaranteed the last year of his contract - none of which had been previously guaranteed - and added another $3 million in incentives. He'll count $17.55 million vs. Washington's cap.
Meanwhile, Washington also signed receiver
Michael Gallup to a one-year deal. He retired last year after signing with Las Vegas shortly after being cut by Dallas.
For Samuel, Washington represents a fresh start after six seasons with San Francisco. In his first press conference since the trade Samuel said asking the 49ers to trade him was "tougher than you think" but that he can't wait to show his new team what he can still do.
"They're getting a motivated Deebo," he said via a video conference call. "You get a dawg out there. These young legs are still moving, this body is still working pretty well."
..."I like winners," Samuel said. "I'm not one of your biggest losers. They've got a good team for sure and they were just standing out."
Washington finished 12-5 - its first winning season since 2016 -- and lost in the NFC Championship Game to Philadelphia. It was the team's first playoff win since the 2005 season.
The Commanders have a standout young quarterback in
Jayden Daniels - who won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the year this past season - that also appealed to Samuel.
He said former 49ers teammate
Brandon Aiyuk, who played with Daniels at Arizona State, constantly raved about the quarterback.
"That's all B.A. used to talk about, 'My boy is about to win the Heisman. My boy is about to do this, my boy's about to do that,'" Samuel said. "He won the Heisman and came to the league and played extremely well. Everything Aiyuk said would happen, happened.
"Just to see him grow and see how well he played last year I was like, man why not try to come over here and help in any aspect that I can."
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