Adam Peters believes Deebo Samuel Sr. has a lot of good football left. He also made one telling move that should help keep complications to a minimum.
The Commanders acquired the veteran wide receiver for nothing more than a fifth-round selection this offseason. Although it could be a steal, one has to wonder why the San Francisco 49ers accepted so little for Samuel and ate $34.1 million in dead cap money to remove him from the equation.
Concerns have always been there about Samuel’s conditioning. It’s a reported reason why his production dipped last season. His weight was being constantly monitored to the frustration of everyone involved. Things eventually reached boiling point, and both parties opted to go their separate ways.
Peters knows Samuel well. He also knows what kickstarted his NFL career, going from a modest performer to an All-Pro weapon capable of taking over games when in the mood.
Commanders counting on Wes Welker to help Deebo Samuel thrive
That was a topic discussed by Ben Standig from The Athletic. The Commanders’ insider highlighted the hiring of Wes Welker to the staff as something to monitor as preparations unfold. He was the man who kept Samuel on the straight and narrow in San Francisco. Washington is likely hoping for similar results when the pair reunite in D.C.
“The 49ers traded [Deebo] Samuel this year and absorbed a $31.5 million salary-cap hit for a mere fifth-round pick, partly because of game-shape concerns following a down 2024 campaign that led to questions about whether the dual-threat’s best days were in the past. Washington needs the fully engaged version of this yards-after-catch dynamo to help maximize [Kliff] Kingsbury’s attack and [Jayden] Daniels’ playmaking. Hiring a familiar face for Samuel with a taskmaster résumé [Wes Welker] can’t be coincidental. Ideally, the reunion is the rebirth of a beautiful and highly successful partnership.”
Ben Standig
Welker will have more on his plate than just Samuel. The personnel analyst will work with the front office, giving knowledgeable insight on how things are unfolding. He’ll also work alongside the coaching staff to bring more from the players, with the pass-catchers forming his primary focus.
Making sure Samuel is at optimum fitness throughout the season is among the top objectives. The former South Carolina standout got a fire lit under him by Welker in San Francisco. If the same happens again, this trade will go down as another masterstroke by Peters.
The general manager leaves nothing to chance. Peters is a meticulous planner, and he saw firsthand just how much Welker helped Samuel reach incredible heights. He felt bringing the former wide receiver into the mix could be a minor move that would make a big difference.
Time will tell, but it’ll be a fascinating dynamic to watch over the coming months before Week 1 against the New York Giants rolls around.
