On Thursday night, reports surfaced that the 49ers are signing wide receiver Deebo Samuel to a one-year, $7 million deal. Samuel requested a trade last offseason, leading to a one-year stop with the Washington Commanders. Now, he returns to the offense that helped make him an NFL star, looking to reignite his career with the franchise that selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Samuel enjoyed the best season of his career with the 49ers in 2021, totaling 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns while earning First-Team All-Pro honors. His return comes at an opportune time, with San Francisco's receiving corps dealing with injuries. Christian Kirk is recovering from a calf strain, while there is growing concern that Ricky Pearsall could miss the 2026 season because of lingering knee issues related to the PCL injury that limited him in 2025.
Samuel is expected to provide an immediate spark for the offense, and left tackle Trent Williams believes the 49ers will get the best version of the dynamic playmaker this season.
"Honestly, I'm happy because I know that we're going to get the best version of Deebo that the NFL has seen," Williams said during an interview on Bay Area radio station KNBR. "He's coming from a situation where he's kind of been doubted a little bit, and I think that may be the first piece of adversity he's ran into as a football player, because he's been uber-talented on every level. Every time he touches the ball, he's exciting to see.
"And that's the crazy thing about the NFL. You go somewhere, and the team don't do as good, and then everybody kind of writes you off."
Williams believes that adversity can fuel players to reach another level, and he expects Samuel to respond with one of the best seasons of his career.
As for Samuel's mindset entering the 2026 campaign, Williams added, "It's intensified for sure."
Samuel joins a revamped wide receiver room that now includes veteran Mike Evans, who signed with the 49ers this offseason after spending his first 12 NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Evans already knows exactly what Samuel brings to the table. The two became friends after meeting at the Pro Bowl following the 2021 season.
"I love the way he plays the game," Evans told reporters after Friday's practice. "I think he's going to bring what he brought before to the team—that energy, that versatility. Hell of a pickup for us."
Running back Christian McCaffrey is equally excited about Samuel's return, pointing to the unique impact the veteran wide receiver has every time he steps onto the field.
"I'm so fired up," McCaffrey said during his own radio interview. "Deebo, he has such a presence on the field. When he's in the game, you have to account for him in so many different ways. I look at a guy like Dre Greenlaw on defense. When you get him back, it's just something about that gives you a little bit of confidence, and it's the same with Deebo.
"He gives us all so much confidence. When he's in the game, he's got your back, and he's such a fun dude to play with and a game-breaker."
Greenlaw echoed his teammates' sentiments during his own radio interview, emphasizing that Samuel's return gives the 49ers another difference-maker.
"He's an incredible player," Greenlaw said. "The physicality, just the leadership, the swag, the charisma, everything. He's one of them guys that's reliable. Played a lot of ball, he's going to be there week in and week out. To have somebody like that coming back, amped up, just motivated, it's going to add a big boost and a lot of juice to our team."
With Samuel back in red and gold, the 49ers believe they're not just adding another talented playmaker—they're welcoming back one of the emotional leaders who helped define the team's identity.
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