Deebo Samuel is returning to San Francisco. The 49ers are set to sign the veteran wide receiver, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It will be a one-year deal worth up to $7MM for the former 49ers second-round pick.
Samuel, of course, spent the first six seasons of his career in San Francisco, where he emerged as an All-Pro WR in Kyle Shanahan‘s offense. His best season came in 2021, when he finished with 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. While he wouldn’t come close to matching those numbers during his final three years with the franchise, he still topped 800 yards from scrimmage each season between 2022 and 2024.
Following persistent trade rumors, Samuel was finally dealt to the Commanders last offseason for a fifth-round pick. The wideout finished his lone year in Washington with 72 receptions, the second-highest total of his career. On the flip side, he was limited to only 802 yards from scrimmage, his worst numbers since his seven-game showing as a sophomore. Per Jordan Schultz, Samuel considered returning for a second season with the Commanders, but the opportunity to rejoin the 49ers was “too enticing.”
The 49ers had a sudden need for reinforcement at receiver. We learned yesterday that wideout Ricky Pearsall missed practice while dealing with “swelling in the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee” — the same injury that cost him so much time last year. The issue is reportedly cause for “concern” within the organization, and there’s belief Pearsall may need to go under the knife. That route could force him to miss regular season games.
Offseason acquisition Christian Kirk is also nursing an injury, as the receiver was forced off the practice field this week with a hamstring issue. Kirk dealt with persistent hamstring injuries throughout the 2025 campaign, forcing him to miss a handful of games during his lone season in Houston.
The two injuries meant offseason addition Mike Evans represented the only reliable healthy option at the position. Otherwise, Brock Purdy was eyeing the likes of rookie second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling, former draft picks Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing, and acquisitions Demarcus Robinson and Malik Turner as healthy camp targets. Even if the receivers corps was whole, it sounds like Samuel would have a role, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic passes along that the veteran is expected to slide back into his familiar ‘Z’ role in the 49ers offense.
While Samuel is now off the board, a number of notable veteran WRs remain unsigned, including Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen. With Samuel now out of the picture in Washington, ESPN’s John Keim notes that Diggs remains under consideration for the Commanders.
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