Commanders urged to make pivotal Deebo Samuel free agent decision with contract

Billy Heyen

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Commanders urged to make pivotal Deebo Samuel free agent decision with contract image

The Washington Commanders made a bold move last offseason to trade for Deebo Samuel.

Samuel has been mostly as advertised at wide receiver.

The problem is that the rest of the Commanders have hardly been healthy around him.

They knew when they were getting Samuel that this was the final season of his current contract from the 49ers. Except this season was supposed to look a lot different.

Now, it's decision time.

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Do the Commanders keep Samuel on a new deal and try to run it back with the real plan? Or do they just lock this season in as a loss and move on anyway?

Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox thinks Washington needs to keep Samuel around.

"Samuel has proven himself to be a great fit for Kliff Kingsbury's offense in Washington," Knox writes. "While he hasn't replicated the Pro Bowl numbers he had back in 2021, he's racked up 522 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns as a versatile receiver and runner. Injuries prevented the Commanders' vision of attacking defenses with Samuel, Terry McLaurin, Zach Ertz and Jayden Daniels this season. Washington should extend Samuel early and look to run it back while hoping for better injury fortunes in 2026."

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Ertz seems likely to move on sooner rather than later. He's approaching retirement age.

But if Samuel and McLaurin are both healthy in 2026, and Daniels is, too, Washington can be formidable. The Commanders can build around them along with a solid stable of running backs.

It'd certainly help the Commanders try to make up for this disappointing season. Losing Samuel with nothing really to show for it would be a bummer.

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Editorial Team