5 Commanders players on the chopping block after bombshell Deebo Samuel trade

Adam Peters is not going to rest until the Washington Commanders have a Super Bowl-caliber roster capable of sustained contention. The general manager went a long way to achieving this objective by acquiring wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. via trade from the San Francisco 49ers.

Samuel wanted a fresh challenge heading into the final year of his deal. The Niners granted his wish and found a tremendous landing spot for the versatile weapon. And it cost Peters nothing more than a fifth-round selection thanks to Washington's ability to absorb his $17.47 million salary in 2025.

This is a low-risk, high-reward pickup by the Commanders. Samuel is a dynamic, physical player with dangerous credentials after the catch. It's the perfect complimentary piece for Terry McLaurin and gives quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels another Pro Bowl asset to utilize.

This is a small yet important piece of the puzzle. Peters will be incredibly active over the next few weeks with only 47 players under contract and 28 free agents to navigate. Samuel should help enormously, but there is still a significant amount of hard work ahead.

Not everyone stands to benefit from Samuel's arrival. With this in mind, here are five Commanders players on the chopping block following the trade.

Commanders players on the chopping block after Deebo Samuel trade

Olamide Zaccheaus - Commanders WR

Deebo Samuel Sr.'s arrival takes the wide receivers under contract next season to three. But considering his expected influence and the presence of Terry McLaurin, the Washington Commanders can turn their attention to finding rotational pieces during free agency and the draft.

The Commanders will probably bring back one or two from the previous campaign. This has to work from a financial standpoint, but rewarding players who contributed wouldn't be the worst idea in the world from a continuity standpoint if nothing else.

Washington's trade for Samuel does nothing to improve the hopes of Olamide Zaccheaus getting an extension. The wideout flashed promise after reuniting with head coach Dan Quinn, reaching career heights in receiving yards and receptions in 2024. Whether that's enough for another commitment hasn't been determined.

His skill set is similar to what Samuel brings to the table. Zaccheaus does his best work in the short-to-intermediate areas and can gain yards after the catch. It's nowhere near the standard Washington's latest acquisition has accomplished throughout his career, so it'll be interesting to see what the future holds for the Virginia product.

Austin Ekeler - Commanders RB

Deebo Samuel Sr. is a wide receiver by trade. However, his versatility is something that sets him apart from most wideouts operating around the league.

Slotting Samuel into Kliff Kingsbury's creative offensive scheme comes with mouthwatering potential attached. He can do everything, line up anywhere along the line of scrimmage, and even make his presence felt as a backfield weapon is the situation dictates.

That's not a bad tool for Kingsbury to have in his arsenal. Picking and choosing Samuel's spots will be crucial, but the impressive play-caller will already be conjuring up ways to maximize his new toy.

Samuel's ability to run the football and catch passes out of the backfield became a difficult proposition to stop during his prolific stint with the San Francisco 49ers. If the Washington Commanders adopt a similar philosophy, Austin Ekeler's influence could be impacted more than most.

Ekeler was a free-agent signing last spring. He formed a decent tandem with Brian Robinson Jr. and earned second-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner. However, concussion issues and performance regression in the playoffs tainted his overall body of work.

It would be surprising if Ekeler wasn't on the roster in 2025. What sort of role he'll have if Samuel gets some work in the backfield is anyone's guess.

Noah Brown - Commanders WR

Noah Brown is another who could be impacted by Deebo Samuel Sr.'s arrival. The wide receiver doesn't have the same playing style, but his future with the squad remains murky with free agency on the immediate horizon.

Brown was a late addition to the Commanders before Week 1. Those in power struck with conviction to secure his services once he was released by the Houston Texans. After an expected bedding-in period, the former seventh-round selection started to impose himself as the campaign wore on.

There were some notable highlights from Brown's perspective. None were more memorable than his Hail Mary touchdown catch as time expired against the Chicago Bears. This won NFL Play of the Year and also earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for good measure.

The Ohio State product got dealt a blow just when momentum was starting to build. Brown suffered a serious internal issue versus the Tennessee Titans and wasn't seen again. Unless it's for a team-friendly, short-term agreement, the chance of Washington extending him appears remote.

Brown is a field stretcher with a 6-foot-2 frame, which contrasts Samuel's impressive traits. Even so, the money has to work and the wideout must prove his health before the Commanders give him a new deal.

Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR

Luke McCaffrey is a curious case. The Washington Commanders thought enough of the wide receiver to take him No. 100 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. This came with a minimal contribution despite gaining plenty of reps throughout his rookie campaign.

McCaffrey was brought along gradually by the coaching staff. Not entirely surprising considering he'd only played two seasons at wide receiver in college, but the fact he accumulated nothing more than 24 targets within an offense known for sharing the wealth is a slight concern.

There was a lot to like about McCaffrey's efforts in the return game. His strength seems to be over the short-to-intermediate areas with the football in his hands. Unfortunately for the second-year pro, that's also where Deebo Samuel Sr. thrives.

Acquiring Samuel isn't exactly the biggest vote of confidence in McCaffrey. All hope is not lost by any stretch of the imagination, but we'll find out what those in power feel about the pass-catcher with other pending signings or draft picks in the wide receiver room.

This is an important offseason for McCaffrey. The former Rice star must respond positively to coaching and make the improvements needed to carve out a bigger role for himself next time around.

Dyami Brown - Commanders WR

Dyami Brown's renaissance over the final stages of the regular season and into the playoffs was surprising and pleasing in equal measure. This isn't going to go unnoticed by teams looking for wide receiver help in free agency.

Brown's time in Washington was heading down the same track. Flashing promise in the preseason wasn't enough to extend his involvement. But when Noah Brown went to season-ending injured reserve, his final opportunity to flourish arrived.

The former third-round pick seized the moment. Brown became a trusted target for Jayden Daniels and made some huge plays throughout Washington's sensational run to the NFC Championship game. A disappointing fumble versus the Philadelphia Eagles aside, there was a lot to like about his raised efforts.

While Brown didn't rule out coming back, he's also keen to explore free agency and potentially get more money elsewhere. The Commanders found an upgrade for their screen game with Deebo Samuel Sr., so overpaying to keep the North Carolina product is not an option.

With Samuel and Terry McLaurin around, Brown would be nothing more than No. 3 at best in the wideout room. If more additions arrive in some capacity, that'll further diminish his role.

All signs point to Brown getting a bigger deal elsewhere. Trading for Samuel did nothing to dispel that notion.

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