Much of the offseason conversation surrounding the San Francisco 49ers has centered on their wide receiver room—particularly the departure of Brandon Aiyuk and the uncertain future of Jauan Jennings. But another name is suddenly back in the spotlight: Deebo Samuel.
With Samuel's stint with the Washington Commanders seemingly coming to an end, buzz is building about a potential reunion with the 49ers.
Could the 49ers bring Deebo Samuel back?
Samuel and San Francisco parted ways last year after the veteran requested a trade. With his best years seemingly behind him, San Francisco obliged and dealt him to Washington for a fifth-round pick.
The move didn't deliver the expected return for the Commanders. Samuel finished last season with 727 receiving yards and five touchdowns—solid production, but far from the All-Pro level he once displayed in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Now poised to re-enter free agency, Samuel's market value is a key question.
According to Spotrac, Samuel's projected annual value sits around $15.8 million. That figure may give some teams pause, especially for a 30-year-old receiver coming off back-to-back seasons under 1,000 all-purpose yards. Still, it's not a massive amount for a veteran player who has already enjoyed success in Shanahan's system.
That's where the 49ers enter the conversation.
Why a 49ers reunion makes sense
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay recently projected landing spots for several free-agent wide receivers and paired Samuel with a return to the Bay Area under Shanahan.
Samuel's best season came in 2021 in Shanahan's system, when he totaled 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns. Samuel has failed to come close to matching that type of production in the years since, including last season with the Commanders.
"While Samuel's individual contributions weren't terrible—he improved on most of his middling 2024 receiving statistics, including recording the second-most catches of his career with 72—they weren't a return to the elite form he showed several years ago," Kay wrote. "The hybrid receiver/running back will now hit the open market looking to catch on with a club that can maximize his unique talents."
At his peak, Samuel was one of the NFL's most versatile offensive weapons—capable of lining up outside, in the slot, or in the backfield. He punished defenses after the catch and forced coordinators to account for him on every snap.
The question now is how much of a toll his physical style of play has taken over the years. Samuel may no longer possess the same explosiveness that earned him a strong reputation in past seasons.
"Although he's on the wrong side of 30 years old and coming off back-to-back seasons in which he failed to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards, Samuel still profiles as a high-usage rusher and receiver for a team like San Francisco, a club that needs him far more now than it did when it traded him for a fifth-round pick last March," Kay wrote.
If Samuel can still be that dual-threat receiver, a reunion could also ease the burden on running back Christian McCaffrey, who led the league with 413 touches last season en route to 2,126 scrimmage yards.
"While his initial tenure in San Francisco may not have ended on a positive note, it would be beneficial for both sides to mend fences and reunite for another go in 2026," Kay added.
Jauan Jennings to the Seahawks?
Kay also projected a potential landing spot for Jauan Jennings, and, like ESPN, connected him to the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks.
"Seattle recently lured Brian Fleury away from San Francisco and installed him as the team's offensive coordinator," Kay wrote. "Fleury had worked under Kyle Shanahan since 2019, witnessing first-hand Jennings' ascension from an overlooked and underutilized player to a key receiver in a strong offense."
Kay suggested Jennings would complement Jaxson Smith-Njigba in the passing game and provide physicality as a blocker in the Seahawks' run game.
"If Seattle fails to retain the dynamic Rashid Shaheed in free agency, Jennings would be an ideal replacement—trading in Shaheed's special teams contributions for Jennings' more polished pass-catching and run-blocking talents," Kay added.
If both projections materialize, the 49ers could see one familiar face return, and another land with a division rival.
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