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The San Francisco 49ers have traded former All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday (March 1).
"The first 2025 off-season NFL trade: San Francisco has agreed to send standout wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Like any trade agreed to now, it cannot be processed until the new league year begins Wednesday, March 12," Schefter wrote on his X account.
"49ers began planning for the real possibility that Deebo Samuel was entering his final season with the team last offseason, when they used the No. 31 pick in the draft to select receiver Ricky Pearsall," Schefter added in a separate post. "The Niners also signed receivers Brandon Aiyuk (four years, $120 million) and Jauan Jennings (two years, $15.39 million) to contract extensions. Now Samuel is being sent to Washington."
The Commanders appeared to confirm the trade by sharing a gif on their X account of the Friday character Deebo, whom Samuel gets his nickname from.
Earlier this month, Samuel, 29, revealed that he requested a trade during his exit meeting earlier this year, with the team granting him and his agent permission to seek a trade. The former University of South Carolina standout had previously requested a trade in 2022 while he and the Niners reached a stalemate before agreeing to a three-year, $73.5 million contract extension, which included $58.1 million guaranteed.
Samuel was repeatedly said he was "frustrated" with his lack of production, which included a since-deleted post on his X account complaining about not getting the ball enough.
“Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!” Samuel wrote at the time.
Samuel is entering the final year of his contract and is owed $17.55 million in 2025, which will be a factor in team's interest in acquiring him via trade. The Niners drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first-round of the 2024 NFL Draft and extended wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk last offseason.
Samuel is coming off a season in which he recorded 51 receptions, his lowest total since an injury-riddled 2020 season, as well as 670 yards and three touchdowns. The Commanders were one game shy of a Super Bowl berth, having suffered a blowout loss to the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game following a historic rookie season from quarterback Jayden Daniels.