Deebo Samuel Sr. was not supposed to be the Washington Commanders’ WR1 in 2025. That role was supposed to go to Terry McLaurin, as it has every year since the Ohio State alum arrived in the franchise.
When Adam Peters traded for Samuel, he envisioned the wide receiver as a complementary player. If all went according to plan, he would be the best sidekick McLaurin had ever benefited from.
We all know what happened.
McLaurin was rusty early on after his lengthy holdout. Just as he was regaining form, he suffered an injury.