Commanders' decision looks colder after Deebo Samuel's failed 49ers reunion

Riggo's Rag · Jul 22, 2026 17:30 · 3 min read

Commanders' decision looks colder after Deebo Samuel's failed 49ers reunion — Former Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images) | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Former Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. was reportedly keen on a move back to the San Francisco 49ers, but the feeling wasn't mutual.

It hasn't been the free agency that wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. expected when the Washington Commanders opted not to bring him back after just one season. And according to a recent report, this all started with a glaring snub from his old employers.

The relationship between Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers had run its course. They ate just over $34 million to remove him from the equation ahead of time, trading him to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick. Considering what he brought to the organization in testing circumstances, the compensation was well worth it. But it wasn't enough for an extended stay, as general manager Adam Peters pursued a youth movement.

Samuel is still looking for another chance to shine elsewhere. It would be shocking if he wasn't on an NFL team before Week 1, but the South Carolina product may have to wait a little longer unless he's willing to take some concessions financially.

Deebo Samuel Sr. reportedly had interest in rejoining 49ers after Commanders exit

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, who knows more about the goings on within the Niners than most, revealed that he thought Samuel had an interest in going back to San Francisco, and he was even a little frustrated when they quickly signed Mike Evans in free agency. His wishes were not reciprocated, which head coach Kyle Shanahan reportedly made clear when he departed for Washington.

“Here’s what I know about it. I do think Deebo had an interest in returning to the 49ers and was maybe even a little miffed that the 49ers so quickly signed Mike Evans as a free agent… I do think Deebo would have liked the opportunity to be back with the 49ers. The 49ers moved on without him and I think he and Kyle Shanahan spoke about that after the fact.”

It's not hard to see why Samuel would have been intrigued by another spell in San Francisco. Nice weather, a familiar system, and teammates he already knows extremely well.

But unless the feeling was mutual, it was always going to be a non-starter.

Teams have all but locked in their initial rosters for training camp, and Samuel is still sitting on the market. He's still productive enough to upgrade a unit in a more complementary role, but the versatile offensive weapon may have to wait until an injury hits elsewhere.

That seems a little harsh for someone who performed pretty well last season as everything around him crumbled. Still, it's a common theme around the league when wideouts cross 30 years old.

Samuel saw this free agency — his first since being drafted as a second-round pick in 2019 — as a chance to get one last big long-term payday. That looks ambitious now, so attention must turn to finding a new opportunity in good time to pick up the scheme quickly enough to avoid becoming an afterthought during the 2026 season.

Just where that'll be is the big question nobody knows the answer to right now.