It’s been nearly one week since the Washington Commanders finalized their trade of star wide receiver Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick.
The acquisition of Samuel was an important one for Washington, which had just two other receivers under contract for next season — Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey.
The Commanders have since re-signed K.J. Osborn and Noah Brown, and lost both Dyami Brown (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Olamide Zaccheaus (Chicago Bears) in free agency.
Samuel, who totaled 51 catches, 670 yards receiving, 136 yards rushing and four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) last season with the 49ers, is expected to be Washington’s No. 2 WR opposite McLaurin, who's topped 1,000 yards or more in each of the last five seasons.
Samuel’s arrival in Washington has generated plenty of buzz on social media, and on Tuesday the team made an official announcement regarding Samuel that likely had fans buzzing.
The Commanders revealed that Samuel will wear No. 1 — the same jersey number he wore in college at South Carolina and the same number he wore in his last season with the 49ers after switching from the No. 19 that he wore for his first five NFL seasons.
Samuel fits the exact role head coach Dan Quinn told reporters at the combine (before the trade with San Francisco went down) that he was looking to fill.
“We want to attack, man,” Quinn said. “So, however we can find ways to go do that, we will. … 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, receiver — that we want to do. And so, we're going to keep finding guys that fit that and can attack and be aggressive.”
