Commanders Acquire Deebo Samuel With Coach Praising Speed

The Washington Commanders acquired wide receiver Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers in an offseason trade, a move that initially raised some eyebrows due to Samuel's down year in 2024. However, head coach Dan Quinn, who previously coached against Samuel as the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator, praised Samuel's speed and toughness after seeing him in offseason workouts, noting he had forgotten just how fast Samuel is. Samuel is known for his physicality and elusiveness, having broken 201 tackles over his six-year career and averaging significant yards after catch, despite a slower 2024 season affected by pneumonia. Quinn highlighted Samuel's difficulty to tackle and his ability to break away on deep routes, reaffirming that Samuel remains one of the fastest players on the team. Despite concerns about Samuel's weight and production last season, Quinn's observations indicate Samuel's speed and playmaking ability will be critical to the Commanders' offense in 2025. Samuel, who ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the combine and can line up across the field, is projected to be the Commanders' No. 2 wide receiver, bringing a blend of physicality and explosiveness to the team.