When the Washington Commanders made a daring trade for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., it was met with skepticism by fans and the media. The San Francisco 49ers ate more than $31 million in dead cap money to remove him from the equation. That was the clear sign that the NFC West club considered him a spent force.
Accusations about his lack of conditioning were rife. His attitude was called into question, and his spat with some special-teams players raised concerns that the wideout could become a locker-room distraction. A departure seemed inevitable, but the Commanders held a different opinion.