Soon-to-be Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel took to social media on Monday to assure fans there’s no animosity between him and the San Francisco 49ers.
“49ers know where I stand with them and it’s nothing but love,” Samuel wrote. “Love [GM] John [Lynch] and [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] to death no bad blood no way shape or form. They know I’m more than appreciative of everything they done for me as a player and a man nothing but love [love].”
Over the weekend, the 49ers agreed to trade Samuel to the Commanders for a fifth-round draft pick—a surprisingly low return considering his breakout 2021 season, when he racked up 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns.
Of course, since then, Samuel’s production—and stock—has declined. He finished last season with just 806 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns as the 49ers struggled to a disappointing 6-11 record.
Now, Samuel gets the fresh start he sought after requesting a trade during January’s exit interviews. He’ll join the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, quarterback Jayden Daniels, and play alongside a fellow 2019 draft pick, wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Samuel addresses weight reports
Samuel also responded to reports about his weight during the 2024 season. Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard initially reported that Samuel was about 20 pounds overweight, with The Athletic’s Matt Barrows recently confirming he’d also heard about the weight issues.
“He had pneumonia in Week 7, and an array of injuries — calf, ribs, oblique and wrist — throughout the year kept him out of practices,” Barrows wrote. “And when Samuel didn’t practice, he gained weight. A lot of weight. Let’s just say he crossed that 220-pound threshold with gusto and at one point tipped the scales at what you might want your starting tight end to be.”
Samuel clarified that his weight peaked at “225 to be exact” and expressed his excitement for the upcoming season.
