49ers Sign Former First-Team All-Pro to One-Year Contract
The San Francisco 49ers are adding a familiar name to their wide receiver room. It was announced that they are signing Deebo Samuel to a one-year contract worth up to seven million dollars. With this new deal, the Niners are hoping that Samuel can make an impact in their offense. After turning 30 back in January, Samuel is still looking to prove his worth as a valuable asset in 2026. Both Samuel and San Francisco are taking a gamble on his success, with both of them hoping for a great season in 2026.
Hot Start, Injury and All-Pro Season Elevated Samuel to Elite Status
George Kittle solidified himself as the premier pass catcher for the 49ers in 2018, but the team still struggled to get production out of the wide receiver position. In 2019, the team aimed to change this by drafting Samuel with the 36th-overall pick. The former South Carolina Gamecock excelled as a rookie, finishing with the team’s second-most receptions and receiving yards in the regular season and the most receptions and receiving yards in the playoffs. Unfortunately, his second season was cut short due to injuries, but he bounced back in a big way in 2021. In that season, he finished fifth in the league in receiving yards, third in scrimmage yards and seventh in scrimmage touchdowns, which earned him the highly touted honor of First-Team All-Pro.
Decline Expedited by New Receivers in San Fran
Samuel’s excellence didn’t last forever, though. Brandon Aiyuk took over Samuel’s spot as the top wide receiver in San Francisco, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons while Samuel has yet to post a season over 900 yards since his All-Pro season. His last season in San Francisco was 2024, setting per-game lows in a full season as essentially the fourth target in the offense. The 49ers traded Samuel on March 12th, 2025, sending him to the Washington Commanders, who had just appeared in the NFC Championship. Samuel played in an enhanced role with the Commanders while Terry McLaurin was injured but couldn’t quite match the production that their star receiver put up. With this new contract, it remains to be seen what kind of impact that Samuel will have for the team.
