NFL pundit says what Commanders fans refuse to believe about Deebo Samuel

Deebo Samuel Sr. has lofty expectations on his shoulders this season. The Washington Commanders are expecting him to become a legitimate No. 2 wide receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. And this represents a fantastic environment for the one-time All-Pro to galvanize his career.

Everything has gone better than expected this summer. However, one NFL analyst questioned whether Samuel's down year in 2024 was the start of his career decline.

The Commanders believe that Samuel still has a lot of good football left. Adam Peters only had to give up a fifth-round selection to find out for sure, and it didn't take long for the versatile weapon to develop an encouraging chemistry with quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels upon joining the organization.

NFL analyst doubts Deebo Samuel Sr.'s potential impact on Commanders in 2025

The signs are immensely positive around Samuel, which is a testament to his work ethic and playmaking ability. Even so, Brandon Deeg from The Score wondered if the player's lack of route-running prowess might be his undoing as he gets older.

[Deebo] Samuel is coming off a dreadful season, having recorded only 51 catches for 670 yards while playing over 73% of San Francisco's offensive snaps in the games he appeared in. He was extremely inefficient when targeted, ranking 135th among wide receivers in success rate. It's certainly possible that he's lost a step at 29 years old. If Samuel continues on this trajectory, he's unlikely to receive a lucrative contract that would set him up for significant playing time in 2026. Samuel relies heavily on his yards-after-catch ability, but he's not an elite route-runner - a key skill for older receivers.Brandon Deeg

This is always a possibility. Samuel looked to lose some dynamism last season, and the South Carolina product had trouble creating separation without being schemed effectively. Fortunately for the Commanders, they have an exceptional play-caller in Kliff Kingsbury leading the charge.

Kingsbury's concepts look well-suited to Samuel's skill set. There's an emphasis on getting the football out quickly and into the hands of his playmakers. That keeps defenses honest, allowing more freedom for McLaurin and Noah Brown to get downfield for potentially bigger gains. His presence should make the Commanders more efficient and balanced, which is only going to help Daniels' cause.

If Samuel can't reach his billing, the Commanders can easily move on from the wideout when his contract expires next year. If he exceeds the performance levels expected, Peters would be wise to offer a new deal to keep him around.

It's a fine line between success and failure for Samuel. But he's got silencing doubters firmly in his sights.

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