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Daily Slop – 1 Mar 25 – One-on-one with Dan Quinn; LB, TE, CB, S draft prospects; trading for Deebo?

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Should the Commanders trade for Deebo Samuel

Evaluating all aspects of a potential deal for 49ers WR Deebo Samuel

Samuel just turned 29 in January and there are questions to be answered about his future production levels. Lots of reports from San Francisco last year suggested Samuel had perhaps lost a step and isn’t the player he once was. I don’t think he’s necessarily at the levels he was at in 2021 when he posted career highs in just about every category and was probably the biggest weapon in the NFL at that time. But I’m not sure the drop off is as drastic as some have made it out to be.

While Samuel’s production may have dropped off slightly from his previous seasons, he was still a very productive player capable of generating plenty of yards after the catch in 2024. The 49ers do a great job being creative and finding ways to use his versatility in order to get him good matchups. More importantly though, they find as many ways as possible to get him the ball in space in order to let him do what he does best, which is create after the catch.

His shiftiness in the open field combined with his physicality in breaking tackles makes Samuel the perfect option in the screen game.

On third and 18, the 49ers opt to play it safe by throwing a quick tunnel screen to Samuel, happy to punt the ball away afterwards. Samuel receives the ball and the 49ers do well to get multiple blockers out in front. Samuel squeezes between two blocks and gets into the second level of the defense. From there, he looks to bounce outside but has to break through two tackles in order to do so. Just when it looks like he’s about to go down, Samuel quickly bursts up the sideline, picking up a few more yards before being forced out of bounds for a 15-yard gain.

Now he didn’t pick up a first down, but he did set up a fourth and three from midfield. The 49ers opted to punt in that situation, but we’ve seen Dan Quinn be aggressive all season in those fourth and short situations and Jayden Daniels has been excellent at converting them. So having someone like Samuel that can turn a third and extra long into a fourth and short would be huge for the offense to help them overcome negative plays like penalties. You can see how Samuel would translate to the Commanders offense on things like run-pass option plays as the Commanders use a lot of bubble and tunnel screens as part of RPOs to help lighten the box.

What intrigues me the most with Samuel is his ability to operate out of the backfield. Kliff Kingsbury was very creative with his backfield sets last year, often using two running backs on the field at the same time. Austin Ekeler would often play the role of the second running back that would sometimes run routes from the backfield or move out to the slot.

Commanders.com

Top CB prospect Will Johnson ‘not surprised at all’ by Mike Sainristil’s success

Sainristil also led the team with two interceptions in the regular season and grabbed a pair during the Commanders’ 45-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

“Mike’s somebody that, he’s hard to fool,” said head coach Dan Quinn. “Much like Jayden, he’s got a little bit of an older soul about him, he takes to coaching quickly, he doesn’t repeat mistakes. And so for him, the opportunity, when it comes to go and nail it — he delivered on that.”

Sainristil had six interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and led the Big Ten with 232 return yards during his final season at Michigan. Johnson did his best to replicate that feat in 2024 by also leading the conference in interception return yards and taking back two interceptions for touchdowns. One of those scores came during the Wolverines’ 27-24 win over USC with 5:26 left in the third quarter.

Johnson credits some of his success to Sainristil’s influence on him.

“That’s my guy,” Johnson said. “I mean, he’s taught me a lot of things. Just how to carry myself, how to work on and off the field. He’s always been a pro. He’s just a great leader, great man.”

Kiper lists Johnson as the ninth-best player on his big board and the second-best cornerback in the draft since Colorado’s Travis Hunter is entering the draft as a defensive back. The Commanders pick 29th in the first round, so the likelihood of a reunion between him and Sainristil is small.

Riggo’s Rag

5 intriguing free-agent edge rushers the Commanders must consider in 2025

Malcolm Koonce is a wild card — something of a forgotten man heading into free agency. Things looked promising for the edge rusher after gaining eight sacks for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. His promising momentum came to an abrupt halt when a serious knee injury ruled him out for the entire season.

This is dependent on medical assessments. Teams will be reluctant to commit a massive sum to the player. Koonce might have to accept a one-year, prove-it deal if the Raiders move on. That could work in the Commanders’ favor when one factors everything into the equation.

The Commanders are ready to contend. They could offer Koonce a decent role looking at their lack of edge-rushing options. He’s also in his prime at 27 years old when the 2025 campaign begins. That makes the Buffalo product a potential long-term option if everything goes well.

A bidding war might drive the price up, but it wouldn’t hurt the Commanders to inquire. If the price is too high, they’ll look elsewhere for alternatives.

Podcasts & videos

1-on-1 with HC Dan Quinn, Logan Paulsen Reports From the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine | Command Center

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Big Blue View

Quarterback news: Matt Stafford returns to the Rams… Aaron Rodgers to the Giants?

Matt Stafford won’t be a Giant

The Giants were reportedly very aggressive in their pursuit of Stafford, offering somewhere between $90 and $100 million in guaranteed money, and were reportedly willing to trade the picks to get him. However, it seems that Stafford didn’t want to leave Los Angeles.

With the Giants’ preferred veteran starter off the table, the team will have to move on to their “Plan B”.

Or perhaps that should be “Plan A” for Aaron Rodgers.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic is reporting that the Giants are now pivoting to the soon-to-be released Aaron Rodgers as a potential veteran starter.

Rodgers, 41, is currently under contract with the New York Jets but is expected to be released at the start of the new league year.

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NFL.com

NFL releases franchise, transition tag values for 2025

  • Quarterback: $40.242 million (franchise); $35.377 million (transition).
  • Running back: $13.64 million (franchise); $11.067 million (transition).
  • Wide receiver: $23.959 million (franchise); $21.441 million (transition).
  • Tight end: $13.826 million (franchise); $11.712 million (transition).
  • Offensive line: $23.402 million (franchise); $21.271 million (transition).
  • Defensive end: $22.062 million (franchise); $19.872 million (transition).
  • Defensive tackle: $25.123 million (franchise); $20.849 million (transition).
  • Linebacker: $25.452 million (franchise); $20.862 million (transition).
  • Cornerback: $20.187 million (franchise); $17.595 million (transition).
  • Safety: $18.601 million (franchise); $15.027 million (transition).
  • Kicker/Punter: $6.313 million (franchise); $5.73 million (transition).

NFL.com

2025 NFL combine stock up/stock down, Day 2: Nick Emmanwori, Maxwell Hairston sizzle

With other tight ends taking a step back on Friday with their performance at the combine, [Terrance] Ferguson might have secured a Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) spot with a position-best 4.63-second 40 (1.55 10-yard split). His 39-inch vertical and 10-2 broad jump met expectations, as well. The former Duck caught everything thrown his way with ease during the workout, reeling in a ball thrown above his head on a deep route and toe-tapping on the sideline in a jump-ball drill. He had suddenness in his routes that many of his fellow tight end prospects lacked, separating himself in a competitive group.

[Darien] Porter was only a one-year starter for the Cyclones, but the former receiver showed plus athleticism on Friday. At 6-2 7/8 and 195 pounds, he ran a 4.30 40 with a 1.49-second 10-yard split and a 10-foot-11 broad jump. Porter looked good in drills, showing off strong hands to high-point most deep throws. He also exceled in the gauntlet drill, running in a straight line and snatching passes with his 33 1/8-inch arms.

2025 NFL combine: What We Learned during Friday’s activities in Indianapolis

A supersized safety at a hair over 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Emmanwori put on quite an athletic display, first pacing the position in the vertical leap (43 inches) and broad jump (11 feet, 6 inches). (In fact, those two marks are the best at any position through the first two days of the combine.) Then he took to the track and blazed a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, trailing only Kansas State’s Marques Sigle (4.37) among safeties.

Daniel Jeremiah ranks Emmanwori as his No. 1 safety and No. 25 overall player in this draft, likening him to Pro Bowler Derwin James. And considering the NFL Network draft guru doubles as color commentator for Los Angeles Chargers, that comp carries some weight. In fact, DJ was in contact with James during Friday evening’s broadcast, relaying that the man himself texted the following endorsement of Emmanwori: “Bro is a dog. He’s a great kid.”

Athleticism was [Joshua] Simon’s calling card during his six college seasons, split between Western Kentucky and South Carolina. We saw more of the same from the 6-4 1/8 pass catcher in Indianapolis, where he ran a 4.65-second 40 at 239 pounds. He impressed in the jumps, too, with 38 inches in the vertical and 10-4 in the broad. His smooth routes and soft hands in drills showed he has the skills to move the chains, potentially pushing him into the top of Day 3.

Discussion topics

A major reason the group struggled to find a team is last year’s season with the Giants, which showed GM Joe Schoen talking on the phone with running back Saquon Barkley’s agent. Schoen told Barkley’s agent to name the price that would keep him as a Giant, which was a three-year deal for $12.5 million a year with $25 million guaranteed.

“If I offered him [those numbers,] he’d be a Giant?” Schoen said. “All right, I’ll give you a call back. This may be above me on Saquon.”

Barkley signed with the NFC East rival Eagles and had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history, culminating in a Super Bowl championship.

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