Should Deebo Samuel be back with the Washington Commanders in 2025?

Well, that would depend on who you ask. Washington needs receivers in 2026. Only Terry McLaurin, Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey are under contract next season. Lane and McCaffrey proved they could be excellent returners this season, but still have much to prove as receivers. When McLaurin suffered a quad injury, costing him half of Washington’s games, the Commanders never recovered.

Imagine if they didn’t have Samuel? Through 16 games (Samuel missed one game with an injury), he has 70 receptions. 707 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Samuel has also rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown. He spent much of the season serving as Washington’s No. 1 receiver, a role he was not expected to play. The Commanders brought in Samuel to serve as a complement to McLaurin, who could play a dynamic role in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme. Washington envisioned Samuel doing more things out of the backfield and in the quick game, rather than lining up so often in a traditional receiver role.

Samuel is a free agent in March. The Commanders have the cap room to retain Samuel, who turns 30 in January. It’s doubtful that GM Adam Peters wants to pay big money to two receivers over 30 years old, but Samuel’s market will not be the same as Terry McLaurin’s. Samuel answered a lot of questions this season. There were doubts about his durability and speed. More than once this year, he has silenced those concerns. However, no team, not just Washington, will be in a hurry to give a 30-year-old with some injury history a multi-year deal with a ton of guaranteed money.

The Commanders need to target a 1b to McLaurin’s 1a. That’s not Samuel. They love Treylon Burks and hope to retain him, but he hasn’t shown enough yet. Whether it’s in free agency or early in the NFL draft, Washington must add a top receiver. George Pickens is a free agent, but the Commanders aren’t paying him more than they’re paying McLaurin. That opens the door for someone like Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs, or Jauan Jennings, if their respective teams do not retain them.

Now, back to Samuel. If Washington can land one of those free agents not named Pickens, allowing Samuel to test the market and then offering him a deal makes sense. He can still help this offense in the proper role.

As of now, the odds of Samuel returning to the Commanders in 2026 seem low. They know they must aim higher, but that doesn’t rule out a potential return. Everyone loves Samuel, from GM Adam Peters, the coaching staff, and his teammates.

Samuel’s market will be fascinating to watch in March.