Lost in all the talk of Terry McLaurin’s return to the Washington Commanders is Deebo Samuel. McLaurin was never really gone, but remained away from the team while the two sides worked on a contract extension. Meanwhile, Samuel used the time to get acclimated to his new surroundings and new quarterback, Jayden Daniels.

All offseason, jokes were made on social media about Samuel’s conditioning. Never mind that Samuel has always been built more like a running back than a wide receiver, but the Commanders had zero concerns. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can’t wait to unleash Samuel in games, which begin next week against the New York Giants.

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McLaurin’s is excellent news for the Commanders. Daniels gets his top weapon back, and McLaurin’s presence will also create more opportunities for Samuel.

In speaking to rival executives from around the NFL, Jeff Howe of The Athletic compiled intel on all 32 teams. One rival executive could see big things for Samuel in 2025.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel looks leaner and faster after shedding weight this offseason. The Commanders have been blown away by his commitment to recapturing as much of his prime as possible. Samuel’s production leveled off over his last three seasons with the 49ers, but he could be an asset with Washington, especially now that Terry McLaurin is back in the fold and ready to unlock the offense’s potential.

Samuel wanted to play in Washington. Part of that was the presence of Kingsbury and Daniels. Samuel understands how creative Kingsbury is and has never played with a quarterback like Daniels before. The Commanders will feature Samuel in 2025, meaning he will get some touches in the run game and some in the passing game.

Did we mention that Samuel is also in the final year of his contract? As if he didn’t need enough motivation, Samuel is playing for one last long-term deal. He’s with the perfect team to take advantage of his skill set.

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This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders ‘blown away’ by Deebo Samuel’s commitment to excel