Deebo Samuel wasn’t the only one.
The San Francisco 49ers had to say goodbye to many quality starters across both sides of the ball this offseason. One of those was the fan-favorite receiver that became an offensive weapon other teams feared.
As Samuel now prepares for his first season with the Washington Commanders, though, some analysts are looking back on the trade that the 49ers agreed to.
And spoiler alert, the return for the player was seen as a mediocre deal on both sides.
“In a world where pick swaps have become en vogue, snagging a fifth-round choice while dumping salary isn’t a bad return for a player who might have been outright released if the Niners had found no takers,” writes NFL Network Analyst Kevin Patra. “Samuel struggled last year, posting the lowest yards-per-touch mark (8.7) of his career, and the team seemed to sour on the situation. With the club apparently aiming to get its books in order after several seasons of spending big, Samuel always looked like a target to be moved.
“Kyle Shanahan has pieces to help fill the void — presuming they can stay healthy. The key is Ricky Pearsall, who showed big-time flashes down the stretch as a rookie. He won’t be blocked by costlier teammates from the jump in Year 2.”
San Fran received a fifth-round pick for the former All-Pro who looked well past his prime over the last few seasons with the team.
In that regard, Patra’s “B Grade” for San Fran could be seen as a win.
Is the team better off without Samuel, though? That remains to be seen.
And on the flip side: The Commanders think they won – and they think they’re better off, too.
So it’s about two different worlds here. Washington is taking its shot. The Niners are starting over.