Deebo Samuel

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		97	406	5,519	27
2025		16	72	727	5
2024		15	51	670	3
2023		15

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Deebo Samuel's contract earns a C+ Contract Value Index, with the AAV sitting where the comparable-tier deals tend to settle. At $17M annually on a one-year deal, Samuel is being paid at the upper-middle tier of the receiver market, yet his 2025 production—727 receiving yards across 16 games—falls squarely into respectable-starter territory rather than the elite, game-breaking output that once justified his premium pricing in San Francisco. The heel injury that sidelined him late in the season compounds the valuation question; teams evaluating a 30-year-old veteran receiver now factor in durability risk alongside declining dual-threat production, which naturally compresses his CVI grade despite a solid performance mark. As a seven-year veteran entering free agency with his contract voiding, Samuel finds himself in a genuine reclamation window—the Ravens and Raiders interest suggests real league-wide value at his current price point, but Washington's clear pivot toward other receiver options signals the Commanders themselves view him as replaceable rather than foundational. The one-year structure offers Samuel a last-chance audition at a veteran salary, making this a fair-value deal if he lands with a scheme that can maximize his remaining upside, but not a bargain given the health questions and the gap between his current output and his historical peak.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Deebo's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Among wide receivers on the Washington Commanders, Deebo Samuel's output grades to a B+ performance level. His 2025 season produced 727 receiving yards across all 16 games, a mark that qualifies as solid starter-level production but sits notably below the elite dual-threat volume that defined his best years in San Francisco. The receiving yardage represents his core statistical strength, even if the counting output reflects a complementary rather than dominant role in the Commanders' offense. What hurts the grade is the absence of the explosive playmaking and rushing volume that once made him a Pro Bowl-caliber threat — the tackle count (5) and receiving yards alone paint a picture of a player operating in a reduced capacity, a decline compounded by the heel injury that sidelined him late in the season and now looms as a legitimate durability concern heading into free agency. At 30 years old and seven seasons into his career, Samuel is navigating the uncomfortable transition from franchise cornerstone to reclamation candidate; the Commanders' decision to pivot toward a higher-priced receiver and the subsequent release of other pass-catchers signal organizational consensus that his run in Washington is finished. Multiple contenders including Baltimore and Las Vegas have reportedly expressed interest, suggesting the market still views him as a viable starter who can contribute at the right price, but the reality is that Samuel must prove he can stay healthy and reproduce the dual-threat versatility that once made him special if he hopes to resurrect his standing as anything more than a useful veteran complementary piece.

How Deebo Compares at the Position

Deebo Samuel ranks 36th of 295 graded wide receivers by performance. That slots Deebo between Keenan Allen (B+) just ahead and Rashee Rice (B+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Deebo Samuel's sentiment grade lands at C-, reflecting how the recent storylines have framed him. The dominant narrative has pivoted decisively away from franchise-caliber star toward intriguing reclamation candidate—coverage centers almost entirely on free-agency landing spots and scheme fits rather than any genuine evaluation of his current ceiling, signaling the industry views him as a complementary piece rather than a centerpiece. His on-field performance tells part of that story: the 2025 season saw him post 727 receiving yards across 16 games, respectable counting stats but well short of the dominant dual-threat production that once made him one of the NFC's most feared weapons at a $17M AAV. The heel injury that sidelined him late in the season adds tangible health concern to the narrative, while Washington's recent roster moves—prioritizing defensive and offensive line upgrades, releasing receiver depth pieces, signing the like of TE Anthony Firkser and DE Joshua Josephs—send an unmistakable organizational message that his time with the Commanders is finished. The Ravens and Raiders connection circulating in recent reports offers the most positive signal in his current narrative, suggesting genuine interest from contenders who see legitimate veteran value at a bargain price, though the broader media consensus remains one of cautious optimism at best—a respected veteran with Pro Bowl pedigree in San Francisco, but without the certainty or fanfare that once surrounded him.