Could a reunion between the Washington Commanders and wide receiver Deebo Samuel materialize this offseason?
The Washington Commanders enter the 2026 season with a glaring need to find a complementary wide receiver opposite of veteran Terry McLaurin. In 2025, the offense was able to lean on Deebo Samuel after an offseason trade netted the Commanders a versatile piece who went on to lead the team in receptions (72), targets (99), receiving yards (727) and receiving touchdowns (5) while adding another 75 yards and a score on 17 carries.
The added optimism for Samuel's fit in David Blough's offense is the veteran's versatility both out of the backfield and as an outside receiver with head coach's Dan Quinn's reported preference to lean on a more consistent rushing attack moving forward, a philosophical difference that reportedly fueled the parting of ways with former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
But Samuel on the final year of his contract that paid him over $17.5 million in 2025 with a chance the Commanders could extend him at the time of acquisition. Fast forward nearly one year later, and Samuel is set to hit free agency with questions surrounding a reunion in 2026.
Samuel was also projected by one prominent outlet to head back to the West Coast in free agency where he'd serve as the newest weapon for Justin Herbert, but whether that comes to fruition, it's clear his market may end up exceeding the Commanders' price range even with the ample cap space.
"The question is cost: Samuel made $17.5 million last season, but that's a steep price to pay for someone who just turned 30 and isn't the primary receiver," John Keim of ESPN wrote.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN cautioned that a multiyear guarantee may not come to fruition while noting "he's likely to take a pay cut from the $17.5 million he made this season."
Samuel was previously non-committal about a reunion in Washington though didn't rule it out following the regular season.
"Nothing that I can control right now. We’ll see how it goes. Not too much I can do so at the end of the day, it’s business," he said when asked about his future.
Samuel has missed exactly one game in each of the last three seasons though is coming off a season with his most catches and targets since his breakout 2021 season with the 49ers, though his "injury history, problems holding on to the football and age (he turns 30 in January) will limit his market," Barnwell added.
The Commanders enter the offseason with other pending free agents including Noah Brown, though McLaurin is expected to return in 2026 with Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane among the young pieces to carve out a role in year one under new coordinator David Blough. Washington was also projected to sign Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce in free agency with an intriguing mix of receivers expected to be available this offseason. The Commanders were also previously linked to various wide receivers in the upcoming draft at points during the 2025 season including Ohio State's Carnell Tate and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, though latest mock drafts point to the team focusing on the defensive side of the ball with the seventh overall pick.