Deebo Samuel Sr. Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages

Deebo Samuel sends loud message to Commanders fans in viral OTAs video

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 12:00 PM ET

The Washington Commanders believe Deebo Samuel Sr. has a lot of good football left in the tank. Adam Peters sent a fifth-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers to secure his services, and the prolific wide receiver is eager to repay this faith.

One viral video that emerged from Washington's recent OTA session open to the media sent a loud message to fans who were still skeptical about the high-profile transaction.

Samuel had a down year by his typically high standards in 2024. The Niners didn't think the financial commitment was worth the production anymore, and they're eating $34.1 million in dead money to get him off the books. That's not an opinion shared by Peters, and the early signs are immensely positive where the former second-round pick is concerned.

The South Carolina graduate looks leaner. Samuel is sharp, explosive, and slotting in seamlessly. His added motivation to silence some increasing doubters is serving him well, and the player seems refocused to capitalize on the exciting opportunity.

Deebo Samuel Sr. is slotting seamlessly into Commanders' culture shift

His methods away from drills are not going unnoticed. Sam Fortier from The Washington Post spotted Samuel working closely with second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil after practice. It seemed like he was passing on knowledge about how wideouts like to release off the line of scrimmage, which is an incredible tool for the Michigan product to utilize. It's also the clearest example yet that the pass-catcher is fully bought in.

Washington Commanders post practice work:

WR Deebo Samuel and CB Mike Sainristil pic.twitter.com/PVW9EnMlwP
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) June 4, 2025

It'll take a lot more than that. But the fact Samuel is going above and beyond to help himself and his teammates can only be a good thing. It alleviates doubts about his commitment to the cause, which became a reported frustration in San Francisco before both sides went their separate ways.

Samuel is hitting all the right notes in his early integration into the Commanders' culture shift. And sometimes, all players need is a fresh start to get back to the form of old.

The Commanders are betting on a change of environment bringing Samuel back to life. And based on this video, it's also going to make everyone else better along the way.

That's a win-win for the entire organization.