After reaching the NFC Championship during Jayden Daniels’ rookie season, the Washington Commanders sought to give him more weapons in 2025. They bolstered the offensive line by trading for Laremy Tunsil and drafting Josh Conerly Jr., and they traded for Deebo Samuel and drafted Jaylin Lane and Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Unfortunately, there were so many injuries to the Commanders in 2025 that the season was a wash, something they are looking to recover from in 2026.
When the free agency window opened in March, the Commanders let Samuel go, and he remains a free agent today. The Commanders could bring him back if they feel the receivers’ room needs an additional veteran, but there are other places he could go, too. One Bleacher Report article makes eight bold predictions, suggesting that Samuel will get picked up by the Los Angeles Rams.
Slightly-less-bold: They’ll bring in a wideout to work with and provide insurance for Puka Nacua and 33-year-old Davante Adams. No other receiver on the roster caught 20 passes or scored more than a touchdown in 2025, and the Rams must know that they need something else there in what appears to be an all-in campaign.
That could mean Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, Samuel, or a less glorified but familiar veteran like Josh Reynolds. I’m predicting it’s Samuel because I get the sense they don’t want to risk inviting the distractions that could come with Diggs and Hill, and I think Samuel is an ideal fit as a versatile addition to Sean McVay’s creative offense.
The Rams saw a lot of Samuel during his six-year run in the NFC West. I wouldn’t be shocked if they were to find a way to bring in the 30-year-old former star on a one-year contract.
The reasons Samuel is predicted to go to the Rams are the same reasons the Commanders might want to keep him around. He’s a versatile player who can rush and receive. He’s the only wide receiver in NFL history to record 20 receiving and 20 rushing touchdowns in his career.
Advertisement
At age 30, skill players begin to be overlooked because of the wear and tear on their bodies. The average age of an NFL wide receiver is around 25, with 10-15% of veteran receivers in the 30-32 range. Samuel just turned 30 in January, and last season, he proved he still has something left in the tank. He isn’t a true WR1 on any team, but he is very capable of filling in when needed.
If the Commanders don’t re-sign him before the season starts, there’s a high likelihood that someone else will.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: One bold prediction has Deebo Samuel landing with Super Bowl contender
