Could Deebo Samuel be the missing piece for the Atlanta Falcons? With questions behind Drake London at wide receiver, the veteran playmaker could give Kevin Stefanski's offense proven production, versatility, and another weapon as Atlanta pushes to end its playoff drought.
The Atlanta Falcons have made plenty of changes this offseason.
After hiring a new coach in Kevin Stefanski and adding Falcons legend Matt Ryan to the front office, the team is looking to turn the corner in 2026 and make the postseason for the first time since 2017.
The Falcons didn't sit around this offseason either, they added some key pieces to the roster and extended multiple key players to their young core including wide receiver Drake London. However, what's behind London in the wide receiver room is still a question mark.
Should Atlanta add more of a veteran presence with proven performance at the NFL level in year one of the new regime? There are still some candidates available who would fit the bill.
One is certainly Deebo Samuel. A free agent that has played on a few NFC teams over the past few seasons. His addition would be an instant boost to the position, even if it were a one-year deal.
Samuel has built his reputation by being much more than just a wide receiver. Whether it's catching passes, taking handoffs, or creating explosive plays after the catch, he's consistently found ways to impact games. That versatility has helped him eclipse 800 scrimmage yards in six of his seven NFL seasons.
Even last year in Washington, Samuel continued to prove his value. He finished with 802 scrimmage yards while averaging an impressive nine yards every time he touched the football. Considering the Commanders finished near the bottom of the league offensively, those numbers become even more impressive and show why Samuel remains one of the NFL's most unique offensive weapons. With a quarterback battle looming in Atlanta, adding some proven players to the ranks seems like a perfect plan for Stefanski and company.
Samuel is now in his 30s, but he should still have plenty to offer the right offense. If the Falcons consider themselves a playoff contending team, then adding someone like Deebo on a 'prove it' one year deal is a no risk, all reward type of contract. It sets up Atlanta to be more competitive on offense as soon as the season begins, and doesn't corner them into making a move to still bolster the roster, or even the wide receiver room once more at the trade deadline.
The former Commanders and San Francisco 49ers receiver played on a 1-year, $18.25 million restructured deal in 2025. According to Spotrac, his calculated market value if Atlanta were to look into signing him is $15.8 million.
