We now have our first main transfer of the 2025 NFL offseason.
Whereas the deal can not change into official till the league 12 months begins on March 12, the San Francisco 49ers have traded standout extensive receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in change for a fifth-round decide within the upcoming NFL Draft. Samuel, who was coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract, requested a commerce from the 49ers earlier this offseason, and now the group has granted his want.
Is that this a kind of trades the place each side can declare a victory, or does this deal have a transparent winner?
Washington Commanders: A-
Sure, Samuel didn’t produce at his standard degree final season — a stint within the hospital for pneumonia might need performed a job there — and the cash is huge.
However that is precisely the time for Washington to take an enormous swing on a participant who may be a really perfect slot in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. With the Commanders coming off a dream run to the NFC Championship Sport, and Washington holding the third-most cap house within the NFL, they will take pictures on a transfer like this and maximize Jayden Daniels’ rookie contract window. Add a vertical risk within the draft (that is one other stable crop of receivers and Matthew Golden has been a favourite goal for Washington in mock drafts) and immediately this passing sport has a variety of added juice.
Plus, giving up only a fifth-round decide shouldn’t be an enormous worth to pay, even with the contract.
San Francisco 49ers: B-
It is a bit more durable to grade from the 49ers’ perspective.
The return shouldn’t be nice, and the cash is fascinating. Making this deal earlier than June 1 implies that San Francisco goes to incur $31 million in lifeless cap, and take a cap hit of $15 million, in keeping with Over the Cap. Had San Francisco waited on this deal, these numbers would have dropped to $10 million in lifeless cap, and a cap financial savings of $5 million.
However with Samuel due a $15.4 million roster bonus on March 22, San Francisco had some causes to make a transfer earlier than then.
With Samuel publicly requesting a commerce, coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract, and coming off a down season the return was by no means going to be large for San Francisco. Nonetheless, Washington is taking up the rest of his contract and paying his 2025 wage, so the 49ers get some aid in that method.
Moreover, the 49ers do get a fifth-round decide in return, one thing they will add to their draft capital for this 12 months and use to assist construct their roster for 2025 and past. San Francisco might look to try to add to their extensive receiver room, on condition that Brandon Aiyuk is getting back from a knee damage, Jauan Jennings is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his present deal, and Ricky Pearsall is hoping to construct off some early promise he confirmed as a rookie.
49ers followers might need been hoping for extra, however the return might be in step with what the group might have requested for, given the larger context.
