Deebo Samuel Returns to 49ers on One-Year Deal Worth Up to $7M/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Deebo Samuel agreed to return to the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year contract worth as much as $7 million, a source told AP. The former All-Pro receiver rejoins his original team after spending one season with the Washington Commanders. San Francisco added Samuel after a recurring knee problem sidelined starting receiver Ricky Pearsall and raised the possibility of surgery.
Quick Look
- Samuel agreed to a one-year contract.
- The deal is worth up to $7 million.
- The 49ers had not formally announced the agreement.
- NFL Network first reported the deal.
- Samuel spent his first six NFL seasons in San Francisco.
- The 49ers drafted him in the second round in 2019.
- He helped San Francisco reach two Super Bowls.
- Samuel earned All-Pro honors in 2021.
- He produced 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns that season.
- San Francisco traded him to Washington in 2025.
- The 49ers received a fifth-round draft pick.
- Samuel caught 72 passes for 727 yards with Washington.
- He scored five touchdowns for the Commanders.
- Pearsall may need surgery on his right knee.
- Pearsall played only two training-camp practices.
- He missed eight regular-season games in 2025.
Deep Look
Samuel agrees to 49ers reunion
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Deebo Samuel is returning to the San Francisco 49ers for a second stint as the team responds to a knee injury that has sidelined starting receiver Ricky Pearsall.
Samuel agreed Thursday to a one-year contract worth up to $7 million, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The person spoke anonymously because the 49ers had not announced the agreement.
NFL Network first reported Samuel’s return.
Pearsall injury creates immediate need
San Francisco moved to reinforce its receiving group after announcing that Pearsall was sidelined by renewed problems in his right knee.
The injury could require surgery.
Pearsall experienced swelling related to the posterior cruciate ligament injury that caused him to miss eight regular-season games in 2025.
The 49ers are evaluating their options after Pearsall participated in only two practices during training camp.
Uncertainty about his availability created an opening for Samuel to return.
Samuel spent six seasons with San Francisco
The 49ers selected Samuel in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.
He spent his first six seasons with the franchise and became a central part of coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Samuel helped San Francisco reach the Super Bowl twice during that period.
His versatility allowed the 49ers to use him as a traditional receiver, ball carrier and motion player capable of creating favorable matchups.
That familiarity could help him reintegrate into the offense quickly.
All-Pro season established Samuel as star
Samuel delivered the strongest season of his career in 2021.
He recorded 1,770 yards from scrimmage and scored 14 touchdowns.
The performance earned him All-Pro recognition and established him as one of the NFL’s most distinctive offensive players.
His ability to produce from the backfield and after catching short passes made him difficult for defenses to contain.
Samuel’s combination of strength and acceleration became a defining feature of San Francisco’s offense.
49ers traded Samuel to Washington
San Francisco traded Samuel to the Washington Commanders in 2025.
The 49ers received a fifth-round draft selection in return.
Samuel spent one season in Washington before becoming a free agent in March.
He recorded 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns for the Commanders.
His return gives San Francisco an experienced option who already understands much of the team’s offensive system.
Samuel remains dangerous after catch
Samuel has caught 406 passes for 5,519 yards and 27 touchdowns during his NFL career.
He has averaged 8.7 yards after the catch per reception.
That ranks first among NFL receivers with at least 100 catches since Samuel entered the league in 2019.
His ability to break tackles and gain additional yardage turns short completions into potentially significant plays.
The 49ers can use that skill to reduce pressure on their other receivers while Pearsall is unavailable.
Rushing ability adds versatility
Samuel has also rushed for 1,218 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Those numbers came across 97 regular-season games.
San Francisco previously used him extensively on runs, jet sweeps and backfield carries.
His versatility forces defenses to account for multiple possibilities before the snap.
The 49ers will decide whether to restore that broad role or focus more heavily on Samuel as a conventional receiver.
Contract limits long-term risk
The one-year structure gives the 49ers immediate assistance without requiring a long-term commitment.
The maximum value of $7 million suggests that part of Samuel’s compensation may depend on incentives or performance conditions.
The supplied report did not provide the guaranteed amount or specific incentive requirements.
Samuel receives an opportunity to reestablish his value in a familiar offense.
San Francisco gains experienced depth while retaining flexibility beyond the current season.
Pearsall’s knee remains major concern
The 49ers said Pearsall’s swelling is connected to the posterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in 2025.
The problem forced him to miss eight regular-season games.
San Francisco hoped offseason recovery would allow him to participate fully in training camp.
His ability to complete only two practices has intensified concern that the injury remains unresolved.
Surgery could extend his absence and significantly affect the team’s receiving plans.
Pearsall has struggled with availability
San Francisco selected Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 draft.
He has demonstrated strong receiving ability when healthy but has repeatedly missed time.
A shoulder injury kept him out for much of his first NFL training camp.
Pearsall was then shot during a robbery attempt shortly before the beginning of his rookie season.
He recovered and returned to play 11 games.
Rookie year included late return
Pearsall caught 31 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie.
His return after the shooting demonstrated resilience and provided the 49ers with a promising young receiving option.
The missed offseason and early portion of the season limited his opportunity to develop consistency.
San Francisco expected a larger role for him in his second year.
Additional injuries prevented him from sustaining that progress.
Fast start ended with knee injury
Pearsall was slowed by a hamstring problem early last summer.
He recovered and began the 2025 season strongly, catching 20 passes for 327 yards during the first four games.
A knee injury in Week 4 interrupted that start.
He has recorded 67 catches for 928 yards and three touchdowns across 20 games during his first two seasons.
The recurring knee issue now threatens another extended absence.
Reunion offers immediate solution
Samuel’s return provides San Francisco with a proven receiver while the team evaluates Pearsall’s treatment.
He brings extensive postseason experience and familiarity with the franchise’s offense.
The reunion also reverses course only one year after the 49ers traded him away.
If Samuel remains healthy and reproduces some of his earlier production, the agreement could help stabilize a receiving group facing significant uncertainty.
More on Sports