Deebo Samuel is on the open market, and his former San Francisco 49ers teammates aren’t even trying to be subtle about wanting him back. The wideout, who spent last season with the Washington Commanders, is a free agent. Now, with the 49ers already making big moves at receiver, a reunion with a familiar face could be the wild card no one saw coming.
The Niners Tried to Fix Their Wideout Woes, But Did They?
The 49ers have been busy trying to shore up their receiver corps this offseason, and honestly, they needed to. After Brandon Aiyuk and Samuel were gone in 2025, their wideouts really struggled. Nobody on the team even broke 650 receiving yards last year, thanks to a mix of injuries and just flat-out struggles on the field. So, the Niners went out and grabbed Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency, then used their No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on De’Zhaun Stribling.
Evans is a proven No. 1, no doubt, and he can win on the outside. But let’s be real, the dude is 33 this season and just came off the most injury-laden year of his career in 2025. Yeah, he’s productive when healthy and a red-zone threat, but there’s a risk. Kirk also battled injuries in 2025, but he’s another proven weapon, great from the slot, giving them depth alongside Evans and Ricky Pearsall. Then there’s Stribling, their rookie. His role is up in the air, but he’s a big, fast receiver at 225 pounds who was solid after the catch in college. That’s a lot of new blood, but are they done? Probably not.
Deebo’s Numbers Say One Thing, But Kittle’s Guest House Says Another
Despite all those new faces, the question lingers: could the 49ers add *another* weapon? Enter Deebo Samuel, 30 years old and a free agent after his Commanders deal ran out. With Washington in 2025, he caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns, playing in 16 games. He didn’t run much, just 17 carries for 75 yards and one score, and his average depth of target was a low 5.2 yards. Still, the man had some big games, especially early on.
Here’s where it gets interesting: his former teammates are practically rolling out the red carpet. George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk jumped into the comments on one of Samuel’s recent Instagram posts, making it clear they want him back. Juszczyk wrote, “I have a guest house with your name on it,” with Kittle echoing, “I also have a guest house labeled ‘Deebo’s second home.’” That’s not subtle, is it? The 49ers have talked about wanting to get younger and cheaper, but they’ve also brought in a bunch of veterans like Evans, Kirk, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw to chase that championship window. Samuel could totally fit that low-cost, one-year deal mold, bringing depth and reliability with a familiar face.
So, what’s next? Samuel’s gonna find a new team before the season starts, that’s for sure. There are probably situations out there offering more playing time, maybe even back with the Commanders since they’re short on proven options. But with his old teammates openly campaigning, could a Bay Area return be in the cards? The ball is in his court, and the clock is ticking!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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