The Washington Commanders made a big move early in the offseason when they traded for San Francisco 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel.
It's an under-the-radar move they made that could be the key to getting the best out of Samuel.
The Commanders added Wes Welker to their coaching staff, where he'll have the title personnel analyst.
Welker, of course, was a star slot receiver for the New England Patriots catching passes from Tom Brady. He has coached for the Dolphins, Texans and 49ers since retiring.
In coaching with San Francisco, Welker worked with Samuel.
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ESPN's Dan Graziano broke down why this matters after his visit to Washington training camp:
"(GM Adam) Peters, who worked in the 49ers' front office before he got the job as Washington's GM, recalls that Welker had a strong connection with Samuel when the two were together there for the first three years of Samuel's career. Samuel's best season as a pro came in 2021 -- Welker's last year in San Francisco -- when he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns and also rushed for 365 yards and eight touchdowns. The Commanders have plans to use Samuel in a variety of roles, and they hope reuniting him with Welker can help rekindle some of that early-career magic."
At his best, Samuel is one of the NFL's most explosive players. He can run after the catch with an unmatched ferocity, and he doesn't even need the catch part -- sometimes, Samuel can just line up at running back.
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He and the rest of the 49ers had a rough 2024 season, but now Samuel gets a fresh start. It has to be energizing to join an exciting second-year QB like Jayden Daniels.
And with an old friend on the coaching staff, Samuel has a chance to be the best version of himself again.
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