The San Francisco 49ers split with wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the offseason by trading him to the Washington Commanders. After a solid start, the Commanders are now finding out what the Niners already knew about Samuel.
Samuel had a good beginning to the 2025 season with his new team. Through the first five games, the longtime San Francisco "wide back" had 300 receiving yards and four total touchdown. It looked like the change of scenery really was helping, but his numbers since then have fallen off.
In his last four games, Samuel has just 96 receiving yards and one touchdown as his fantasy football stock has fallen. Part of this certainly has to do with the fact Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has been injured and has missed games, but it seems like Samuel is slowing down just like he did last season with San Francisco.
In 2024 with the Niners, he had 335 receiving yards in his first five games with two total touchdowns. His numbers declined after that solid start, and there was a five-game stretch in which he failed to eclipse 30 receiving yards in each game.
By the end of last season, it seemed like both sides were ready to move on, which is why the trade to Washington was not a huge shock. It seems at this point in the veteran's career his production may just drop off as the season wears on. Perhaps this is due to fatigue, conditioning, or other factors, but at 29 years old, he just does not seem to have the same endurance and boost he once did.
Even though Samuel's decline with the 49ers was not easy to watch, it was not an acrimonious split. There still seems to be a lot of love on both sides as Samuel was quick to send positive vibes towards Niners linebacker Fred Warner after his season-ending ankle injury earlier this season.
The 49ers definitely have love and respect for all that Samuel did with the team. He was an absolute beast at his peak with San Francisco, and he could carry the team's offense when it needed him to.
The Niners may be regretting the fact they only got a fifth-round pick in return from the trade, a pick they ended up using on running back Jordan James, who has not even suited up this season.
Still, keeping Samuel and his salary probably would not have been wise as the receiver's decline seems to have continued in Washington after a promising start.