Deebo Samuel returns to San Francisco 49ers on one-year deal as Pearsall injury thins receiver corps
A knee injury to Ricky Pearsall at San Francisco 49ers training camp created an immediate depth question at wide receiver, and the organization moved back to a familiar answer. Former All-Pro Deebo Samuel agreed Thursday to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million to rejoin the Niners, ESPN reported. Samuel spent his first six seasons in San Francisco before a trade to Washington in 2025.
Key takeaways
- Deebo Samuel agreed Thursday to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million to rejoin the San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN.
- The signing was prompted by a knee injury to wide receiver Ricky Pearsall at 49ers training camp.
- Samuel played his first six seasons in San Francisco (2019-2024) before being traded to Washington in 2025 for a fifth-round pick.
- In 2021 Samuel recorded 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns, earning All-Pro recognition.
- With Washington, Samuel posted 72 catches, 727 yards, and five touchdowns in one season before clearing free agency in March.
A knee injury to Ricky Pearsall at San Francisco 49ers training camp created an immediate depth question at wide receiver, and the organization moved back to a familiar answer. Former All-Pro Deebo Samuel agreed Thursday to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million to rejoin the Niners, ESPN reported. Samuel spent his first six seasons in San Francisco before a trade to Washington in 2025.
The numbers behind the deal
Samuel's history with the 49ers starts in 2019, when San Francisco spent a second-round pick on the South Carolina standout. Six seasons followed. His 2021 output remains the high point: 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns, a performance that earned him All-Pro recognition.
He also contributed to two Super Bowl runs during that stretch in the Bay Area.
The Washington chapter told a different story. Samuel posted 72 catches, 727 yards, and five touchdowns for the Commanders in one season. Steady by most measures, but a step back from his peak work in San Francisco. The 49ers had sent him there in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
Free agency and the return
Samuel cleared free agency in March after his year with Washington. The agreement announced Thursday brings him back on a one-year structure with a ceiling of $7 million.
He returns to an offense he spent six years learning. That familiarity matters when a team is filling a hole mid-camp rather than during an orderly offseason addition.
What to watch
Pearsall's knee is the direct catalyst for Thursday's move. San Francisco entered training camp expecting him to carry meaningful responsibilities in the passing game. His absence put the organization back in the market, and Samuel became the answer.
The timeline on Pearsall's recovery will determine what Samuel's role actually looks like. A quick return leaves the 49ers with added depth on a one-year, up-to-$7 million contract. A longer absence puts Samuel in a starting position he last held in San Francisco before the 2025 trade.
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Filed by the newsroom of MarketPR on July 31, 2026. Source: foxnews.com. Indicative figures are not investment advice.