Daily Slop – 22 Mar 25 – One-on-one with new Commanders receiver Deebo Samuel

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders

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Articles

Commanders.com

Five things to know about DE Deatrich Wise Jr.

He was a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

The Commanders didn’t just get someone to help their pass rush; they also added a player who has a history of giving back to the community.

Wise was selected as the Patriots’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for his efforts to support the Patriots’ Foundation, receiving the Ron Burton Patriots Community Service Award, given annually to a Patriots player for their contributions to their community. He also started the Wise Up Foundation, which is dedicated to providing underserved student-athletes with educational resources and opportunities.

“Deatrich’s commitment to his craft, constant effort and desire to improve every day has earned the respect and admiration of his coaches and teammates who have selected him as a team captain for the past three seasons,” Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said in a statement. “But it is his commitment to positively impacting the lives of everyone he touches that earns him this honor.”

The Wise Up Foundation has several initiatives including football camps, block parties and meals for veterans. Check out more information about the foundation HERE.

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ESPN

Commanders 2025 free agency tracker: Offseason moves, signings

Michael Gallup, WR

The former Raider is joining the Commanders on a one-year deal.

What it means: More veteran receiver depth. Washington added Samuel and re-signed Brown, but needed more quality depth at the position. Luke McCaffrey saw his play time diminish later in his rookie year and is still developing at the position. So they needed more options alongside McLaurin. Gallup has 266 career receptions and, after a brief one-year retirement, says he’s in a much better head space. He provides another receiver who does well making contested catches.

What’s the risk: None. Washington doesn’t attach itself to many — if any — bad contracts. Getting Gallup for a year will provide good insurance. Samuel has been banged up in recent years, though he doesn’t miss many games; and Brown has had his share of injuries. Washington needed another veteran. But the Commanders would be helped if McCaffrey developed.

Foster Sarell, OT

The former Charger joins Washington on a one-year deal.

What it means: Depth. Washington needed more offensive line competition, especially for a swing tackle. The Commanders do have the veteran Scott, who was a No. 4 tackle last year; and starting right tackle Andrew Wylie might be an option if they move Coleman to his spot. But they needed another young player — Sarell is 26 — to compete for a job. Of his 328 offensive snaps the past three years with the Chargers, 290 came at right tackle.

What’s the risk: None. Sarell still has to make the team and the Commanders just needed more players to fill out the roster. He does offer some size at 6-foot-6, 322 pounds and that’s needed as well. The Commanders would be wise to find more young interior depth to develop via the draft but Sarell does not impact that ability at all.

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Commanders Wire

Why did new Commanders receiver retire and then decide to return?

Gallup said that Quinn, even though he was on the defensive side of the ball, was always checking on him, and that mattered to him personally. Gallup acknowledged the opportunity with Washington would not have happened if Quinn had not advocated for him.

Gallup doesn’t need to be Washington’s No. 1 or No. 2 receiver in 2025. If he makes the roster, the Commanders could use Gallup to fill Brown’s (30 receptions) or Zaccheaus’ (45 receptions) production. If he doesn’t, Washington loses nothing. Quinn wanted to give Gallup another shot to make it, and the rest is up to the veteran wideout.

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Podcasts & videos

Deebo Samuel Sr. is “READY to ROCK OUT” | Next Man Up | Washington Commanders | NFL Free Agency

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Team 980’s Craig Hoffman on The Approach to Free Agency Thus Far | John Keim Report

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NFC East links

Bleeding Green Nation

NFC East free agency recap

Notable losses: Mekhi Becton, Brandon Graham, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Isaiah Rodgers, Darius Slay, Josh Sweat, Milton Williams

The Eagles lost four starters and three high level backups/rotation players. They acquired just one player who played in more than half his team’s snaps last year, and only two others played more than 25%. They brought in nobody who will unquestionably be a starter.

After the expected trade of Dallas Goedert, the offense will have 9 starters returning from last season, and the defense will have 8 (whenever Nakobe Dean returns from injury).

The Eagles roster unquestionably took a step back this offseason.

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Blogging the Boys

Cowboys may very well have their pick of receivers in the first round

One of the more common predictions for the Dallas Cowboys in mock drafts these days is that the team will take a receiver with the 12th overall pick. It may not be as popular as Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, but wide receiver is definitely a position of need, even after signing Parris Campbell.

By most accounts, the top two receivers in this year’s draft are Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan and Missouri’s Luther Burden. You can read scouting reports on both McMillan and Burden here, courtesy of our own Mike Poland and yours truly. There is plenty of excitement around both players among the fan base and social media scouts.

However, recent rumblings from draft insiders have suggested that fans and the media are much higher on these two than actual NFL front offices. In the most recent mock drafts from both Mel Kiper and Daniel Jeremiah, both coming after the first wave of free agency, neither receiver came off the board in the first 20 picks, and Burden didn’t even get taken in the first round.

All of this comes down to one very simple conclusion, though: it sure looks like the Cowboys are going to have their pick of receivers when they get on the clock this year.

That knowledge may have informed their decision not to pursue Cooper Kupp once they learned about his contract demands, and could also explain their addition of the low-risk Campbell last week. The ability to land the top receiver in the draft without needing a top 10 pick would certainly be a steal, if indeed that is what happens.

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Big Blue View

Jameis Winston will sign with New York Giants

The Giants have their veteran bridge quarterback

Jameis Winston and the Giants are reportedly finalizing a two-year, $8 million deal with incentives that could push the deal’s value to $16 million.

Winston is a magnetic personality, vastly different from Daniel Jones. Former teammates, though, speak highly of what type of teammate he is.

Winston’s experience as a highly-drafted quarterback who has had plenty of peaks and valleys in his career could make him an excellent mentor for whatever young quarterback the Giants draft.

New York Giants free agency: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey signs

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Humphrey had the best season of his career in 2024, catching 31 passes and playing a career-best 546 snaps on offense for the Denver Broncos. Humphrey had a six-reception game and three four-reception games for the Broncos last season.

Humphrey has 62 career receptions in 58 regular season games, including 23 starts. Humphrey has only 76 snaps worth of special teams experience in his career, so he will be on the roster to compete for snaps on offense.

Per Pro Football Focus, 61% of Humphrey’s snaps have come from the slot. Perhaps that leads to him challenging the 5-foot-8 Robinson for slot snaps, at least in some downs and distances.

Humphrey and the other Giants’ receivers are still waiting, of course, to find out who will be throwing them the ball in 2025.

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NFL league links

Articles

ESPN

2025 NFL free agency: Experts debate best, worst signings

Which team has taken a step backward?

Mike Tannenbaum, NFL front office insider: The Dallas Cowboys. Though some of their signings will add depth and talent to their roster (running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, in particular), they lost quality players — Jourdan Lewis, DeMarcus Lawrence, Rico Dowdle and Zack Martin. However, the Cowboys’ most fundamental mistake was not signing Micah Parsons sooner. Now that the defensive end market has been “reset” by $6 million more per year because of Myles Garrett’s new contract, Dallas once again will pay a premium after waiting to commit to a star.

Which is the most improved team after free agency?

Yates: The Washington Commanders. There are certain instances in which quality over quantity matters to me in free agency, and Washington would fit that criteria in this instance. Acquiring left tackle Laremy Tunsil solidifies a premium spot in front of Jayden Daniels, while a small-cost trade for receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. provides a boost as well. Washington should feel emboldened to make moves now following what was maybe the best rookie quarterback season ever.

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Discussion topics

Pro Football Focus

Every team’s best trade asset ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft

Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Micah Parsons

There’s no name on this list bigger than Parsons, whose contract situation has yet to be resolved despite players from the subsequent draft class already being extended. Over the past three seasons, Parsons trails only Myles Garrett in PFF overall grade (93.7) and PFF pass-rushing grade (94.3).

The Parsons trade discourse has cooled for now, but Dallas can’t delay this forever. We saw CeeDee Lamb hold out of camp and nearly force a trade to pressure an extension from Jerry Jones. If Dallas knows it can’t pay what Parsons desires as early as the draft, then all bets are off.

New York Giants: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux

The Giants are in a strange place from a roster construction standpoint in that they either have untouchable young players or players who seemingly wouldn’t attract much interest. The one player who might fit into an alternate category is Thibodeaux.

The former fifth-overall pick displayed encouraging signs last season with a 72.0 PFF pass-rushing grade, but he saw time on only 593 snaps. Reports have indicated that Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option will be picked up, which would probably nix a trade, but it’s possible that general manager Joe Schoen could deal Thibodeaux, not worry about the option and draft someone instead — such as Penn State‘s Abdul Carter at third overall.

Philadelphia Eagles: TE Dallas Goedert

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman might be the most forward-thinking executive in the sport, which is why it’s not surprising to see him reportedly engage in trade discussions for Goedert.

The 30-year-old tight end was productive yet again for Philadelphia last year, producing a 75.8 PFF receiving grade with 6.6 yards after the catch per reception. At the same time, he played in only 14 of 20 games due to a knee injury and will be a free agent in 2026. There’s a good chance the Eagles will trade Goedert before the draft and select a tight end on Day 2 or 3.

Washington Commanders: RB Brian Robinson Jr.

The Commanders’ offseason has centered on upgrading the pieces around Jayden Daniels. In that sense, it might seem paradoxical to trade Robinson, but there would be good reasons to do so.

His PFF rushing grade has declined in all three seasons, and his 34 missed tackles forced in 2024 tied for 27th out of 31 qualified rushers. With Robinson only under contract for one more year and this draft class being rich at the position, trading him in favor of a rookie would be plausible.

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The Athletic (paywall)

The 8 NFL free-agent signings with the best chance to outproduce their contracts

Joshua Uche, edge, Philadelphia Eagles

2025 cash: $1.92 million

The Eagles were the clear winners of free agency in 2024. It is no coincidence they went on to win the Super Bowl. Philadelphia received above-average AV per million returns on several free agents, including linebacker Zack Baun (4.0), running back Saquon Barkley (1.2) and guard Mekhi Becton (1.5). Baun was in the top 10 in AV per million after transitioning to off-ball linebacker and having a breakout All-Pro season.

If the Eagles are going to hit big on a 2025 free agent value signing like they did with Baun last year, Uche is a good bet. He is cheap. He had an 11 1/2-sack season with the Patriots in 2022. He will be playing alongside one of the best defensive tackles in football in Jalen Carter. And we saw in 2024 what kind of impact Carter had on his teammates, including Williams and edge rusher Josh Sweat, both of whom left in free agency. The big question with Uche is whether he can earn playing time in a deep edge rusher room in Philly. Nolan Smith Jr., Bryce Huff and Jalyx Hunt all return. The Eagles also signed Azeez Ojulari to a one-year deal in free agency.

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All aTwitter

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