FRISCO – Before new head coach Brian Schottenheimer draft his first player or holds his first practice, his task to lead the Dallas Cowboys back to the playoffs has already grown more difficult.
In a talented NFC East division led by the newly crowned Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, now the Washington Commanders are making moves to build upon their surprising run to last season’s NFC Championship.
In the first trade of the NFL offseason, the Commanders on Saturday afternoon agreed to acquire San Francisco 49ers’ dynamic, versatile playmaker Deebo Samuel. According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the acquisition of Samuel is costing the Commanders only a fifth-round pick in next month’s draft.
One of Washington’s main objectives this offseason was to upgrade the offensive weapons for star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who led the team to a surprising 12-5 record and two road playoff wins that took them to the NFC title game. Mission (already) accomplished.
If the Commanders wanted a proven asset to play opposite receiver Terry McLaurin, Samuel fits the bill. The Houston Texans were also rumored to be in the market, but Washington obviously struck first to acquire one of the league’s most explosive offensive players.
Samuel, 29, was a first-team All-Pro with the Niners in 2021, amassing 1,770 yards and 14 touchdowns as a running back and receiver. He carried the ball 59 times and caught 77 passes, averaging a league-leading 18.2 yards per catch.
He was part of a Niners’ nucleus that made three consecutive playoff appearances, including a berth in Super Bowl LVIII in the 2023 season.
His production has tailed off the last three seasons, however, as he only had 51 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns last season and running the ball just 42 times and scoring only once.
The trade can’t be officially processed and announced by the teams until the start of free agency and the new season on March 12.
The Cowboys reportedly had interest in Samuel, but were waiting to see if he would be released by the Niners to avoid trading assets for what could be a declining player. The Commanders took no chances, and now Dallas has more offensive firepower to defend in its own division.
