There's plenty for wide receiver Deebo Samuel to get acclimated to now that he's officially in uniform for the Washington Commanders, from learning his role in the offense to building chemistry with his new teammates.
It's only been about a month since the start of the offseason workout program, but both things are going well for Samuel, particularly when it comes to establishing a rapport with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders gave up a fifth-round pick to acquire Samuel in February, and the hope is that he will add another dimension to the offense and provide Daniels with a big target who can make plays after the catch. It's going to take some time for that connection to develop and may not fully bloom until after the season begins in September, but Samuel is already impressed with the second-year signal-caller.
"I feel like the man's been here forever," Samuel said. "He's comfortable; he knows what's going on; he knows where the ball needs to go. I just think he's very smart."
Daniels has already gained a strong reputation around the league after putting up what some consider to be the best rookie season in NFL history. He put up more than 5,000 yards in the regular and postseason combined, led the Commanders to their first conference championship since 1991, was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and finished seventh in MVP voting. As a result, Washington fans and the league have high expectations for Daniels' second season, hoping he can repeat his success from 2024 and perhaps even surpass it.
The Commanders' acquisition of Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers was one of the team's first moves to help him accomplish that. Samuel was a versatile weapon for the 49ers since he was drafted in 2019, amassing nearly 6,000 scrimmage yards and 42 touchdowns. His best skill set is what he can do with the ball in his hands; although his depth of target is only 6.4 yards, he has 3,594 yards after contact, which represents 61% of his total production.
"I was always so impressed with how [San Francisco 49ers Head Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] utilized him and did different things with him, and he's a football player through and through," Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said of Samuel. "Even being out here at OTAs...he's got a natural feel for things."
It seems like a perfect partnership for Daniels, who excels at ball placement and puts his weapons in the best position to succeed. He and Samuel are still developing their chemistry, although there were flashes of what it could be during Washington's OTA practice on May 28. Samuel used his 215-pound frame to get in front of a defender and turned a slant route into a decent gain.
Daniels said he was "obviously" excited to work with Samuel during the upcoming season. They will keep working on their on-field chemistry throughout the offseason, but don't expect Daniels to reveal too much about that process.
"I think that's a conversation between me and him," Daniels said. "Can't really give out too many secrets. Just how I see different coverages, stuff like that."
Still, it didn't take long for Samuel to confirm that Daniels was the same player he thought he saw while watching the Commanders go on their playoff run. He was impressed with Daniels' calm demeanor -- a common praise for Daniels from his teammates last season -- and how he raised his level of play against the league's top-tier teams. Of the 14 quarterbacks who played a snap during the 2024 postseason, Daniels led the group in passing yards, tied for first with Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts in passing touchdowns and had the best QBR.
"The moment's not too big for him," Samuel said. "I just think he's a great player."
The Commanders wanted to give Daniels another option to create explosive plays. They think they got that in Samuel, and although it might take time for them to fine-tune their connection, the potential reward is worth being patient.
"Just the myriad of ways you can use him," Kingsbury said. "The touches you can get, he's hard to tackle ... And so just finding ways that he can continue to impact our offense and still get those other guys the football."
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