Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …
REPORT: Commanders trade for Deebo Samuel – Hogs Haven
Reports from the Combine over the past few days had linked Washington and Deebo Samuel, and now Adam Schefter is reporting that the Commanders are sending a 5th-round pick to the 49ers for the all-purpose wide receiver. […] The 5th round pick would have been #148, acquired from New Orleans as part of the Marshon Lattimore deal executed at the trade deadline last season. Washington’s original 5th round pick, #166, was traded to the Eagles as part of the Jahan Dotson trade prior to the start of the 2024 season.
Trade grades for Deebo Samuel deal between Commanders and 49ers – SB Nation
We have our first major move of the 2025 NFL offseason. While the deal cannot become official until the league year begins on March 12, the San Francisco 49ers have traded standout wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Samuel, who was entering the final year of his contract, requested a trade from the 49ers earlier this offseason, and now the organization has granted his wish. Is this one of those trades where both sides can declare a victory, or does this deal have a clear winner?
Commanders Trade for Deebo Samuel – Over The Cap
The next question will be whether or not Samuel seeks an extension prior to the season. Samuel was never able to come close to the production that helped him earn his $23.85 million per year contract extension. The year prior to the extension Samuel produced 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. In the three years since then Samuel has averaged 731/198/7. Samuel certainly adds another element to an offense but $20 million+ a year with those numbers is a big ask. A few wide receiver trades blowing up in recent years probably make it more difficult to negotiate an extension.
2025 NFL free agency, trade grades: Deebo Samuel to Commanders – ESPN+
That leads to a big question: Isn’t $17.6 million and a fifth-round pick for a one-year rental of a No. 3 wide receiver a lot to pay? You bet. But the circumstances dictate the Commanders’ aggression to add playmakers, and Samuel provides offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury the ability to add wrinkles to what was already a successful offense in 2024. From San Francisco’s perspective, the team has invested heavily in Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall (and maybe could spend more on Jauan Jennings). The 49ers got a nice return for Samuel, whom — absent a trade partner — they might have released.
Deebo Samuel is headed to D.C. – Niners Nation
Samuel had requested a trade earlier this offseason, citing the desire for a fresh start after coming off a career-worst season in per-game averages in a number of categories. Catching 51 passes for 670 yards over 15 games for the 49ers, the wideout took a step back from his 2023 year, where he totaled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Samuel now joins a Washington Commanders team that includes some familiar faces, including general manager Adam Peters, and will hope to bolster a wide receiver unit that is lacking in proven quality options behind star wideout Terry McLaurin.
A peek around at the Cowboys, Giants, and Commanders – and the Deebo Samuel trade – ahead of free agency – PhillyVoice
As noted above, the cost for the Commanders was a mere fifth-round pick. And surely, if you look at folks grading this trade, the Commanders are going to get high marks. I mean… Deebo Samuel for a fifth-round pick?! Sure, do it! Except, the fifth-round pick matters much less than the $17.5 million the Commanders are going to pay Samuel this season. If Samuel were a free agent and the Commanders signed him to a one-year deal worth $17.5 million, many of the same people praising the trade would probably call that an overpay. Is Samuel better than 2024 Commanders receivers like Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus? Sure, I guess. And certainly the Commanders are loaded up with cap space. This move won’t prohibit them from making other big moves in free agency as they try to narrow the gap between themselves and the Eagles. But it’s also not a move that is worthy of praise. The Commanders are an ascending team and they used a healthy chunk of their spending money on a whiny, declining 29-year-old receiver who had one great season four years ago.
Eagles hire Bowling Green’s head coach as their new QB coach – BGN
The Philadelphia Eagles are hiring Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler as their new quarterbacks coach, according to an official announcement from Bowling Green State University. The 50-year-old Loeffler replaces Doug Nussmeier, who recently left Philly to become the New Orleans Saints’ offensive coordinator on Kellen Moore’s coaching staff. Loeffler was a quarterback at Michigan before shoulder injuries ended his playing career. He quickly transitioned to the coaching ranks. Here’s a snapshot of his experience.
The Howie Effect – Iggles Blitz
There has been a lot of talk since the Super Bowl about how the Eagles build on the line of scrimmage. That has been true since Andy Reid came to town back in 1999. Howie kept that going when he took over. Building on the LOS is harder than it sounds. It takes time and discipline. You need years to build a good OL and DL. There will be misses (Andre Dillard, maybe Bryce Huff). You have to stick with it. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah explained it like this. “You have to go to the hardware store before you can go to the toy store.” Simple and brilliant. I’m curious to see if teams overpay for Milton Williams and Josh Sweat. Both are good players, but could get a Super Bowl bump. We’ve seen this effect for 30 years. Free agents from SB teams will get overpaid by teams that overrate them. Josh Sweat played his best game against Kansas City. He did lead the Eagles in sacks this year, but I don’t think anyone would tell you he’s a great player. Williams had the best season of his young career. Let’s do point out that he’s always played beside Fletcher Cox or Jalen Carter. How will Williams do if a team pays him big and expects him to be the stud? He might thrive, but could also struggle with that. I hope both guys get big deals to help the Eagles chances with comp picks.
In Roob’s Observations: Can the Eagles salvage Bryce Huff? – NBCSP
1. Maybe I’m delusional, but I actually think there’s a chance Bryce Huff can be a functional contributor next year. A couple things. This is a guy who has produced in the NFL – 10 sacks last year with the Jets. He seemed to have trouble picking up Vic Fangio’s scheme, but he was starting to turn the corner when he broke his wrist. He had 2 ½ sacks in his last six games before having surgery, and he played a couple of those games after getting hurt. Not exactly Clyde Simmons stuff here, but he was showing up and starting to look comfortable in a new scheme. And the analytics aren’t awful with Huff. Pro Football Focus had him with a 68.3 grade, which ranked 44th of 116 edge rushers who played at least 250 snaps. You always take those grades with a grain of salt, but there could be something there. Huff was never the same after the surgery and he barely played in the postseason – 13 snaps, 12 of them in mop-up duty at the end of the NFC Championship Game. In the likely event Brandon Graham retires and Josh Sweat signs elsewhere, the Eagles will need Huff to pay off to some degree on that three-year, $51 million contract and I still think there’s a shot that happens. Or maybe I’m just nuts.
Eagles’ decision to pick up 5th-year option on former first-round pick is as big as the player – NJ.com
The NFL released the fifth-year contract option values for players taken in the first round of the 2022 draft. The values are based on factors such as Pro Bowl selections and playing time. If the Eagles exercise the option for Davis before the May 2 deadline, they would be committing $12.9 million to ensure he returns for one more season. That figure is comparable to the average annual value of contracts for defensive tackles Grover Stewart of the Indianapolis Colts and David Onyemata of the Atlanta Falcons.
Buffalo native Dave Caldwell sputtered in Jacksonville. Now he’s a champion in Eagles’ front office – Buffalo News
Asked about the top thing he’s learned from Roseman, Dave Caldwell said: “There are so many – leadership, process and decision-making.” Caldwell often scouts games in the Southeastern Conference, close to Jacksonville, and spends the week grinding through college and pro video. “He’s a guy, when you look at how he’s grown, this has given him another perspective,” Roseman said. “He’s been a huge resource for me personally and for our team.” Caldwell did not receive an interview in January for general manager openings in Las Vegas, Tennessee or the New York Jets. Those around Caldwell believe he would find success as a second-time general manager, but the issue is optics. The NFL currently has no second-time general managers. On the other hand, eight head coaches have been hired at least twice.The most recent second-time general managers were Telesco and Dave Gettleman with the New York Giants.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (hamstring) has no timeline, but will be ‘very, very ready’ for Week 1 – NFL.com
In a 2024 season in which the injury bug hit the Dallas Cowboys hard, the loss of their quarterback Dak Prescott midseason was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Fortunately for Dallas, Prescott doesn’t anticipate the hamstring injury that ended his season will cost him any more game time going forward, saying Saturday that he feels confident he’ll be back on the field at minimum by Week 1. “I’m not gonna put a timeline on it, but I’ll be ready for the first game and when anything matters and very, very ready,” Prescott said, via the team website. “I’m feeling good. I’m doing more and more. The last two weeks have been huge and progressive for me.”
Cowboys named ideal landing spot for free agent LB Nick Bolton – Blogging The Boys
DeMarvion Overshown dazzled during his second year, but unfortunately, he suffered his second ACL tear, putting his availability for next season in jeopardy. Damone Clark, if retained, still hasn’t taken the next step in his development, and veteran Eric Kendricks is set to hit free agency. This makes Marist Liufau the only option for the Cowboys at linebacker that they can truly rely on for next season. The NFL draft is certainly a place where the Cowboys can add more talent at linebacker. However, there are some free agent options as well. ESPN recently wrote a piece about landing spots for players that are about to hit the market. He picked the Cowboys as the destination for Nick Bolton of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Could the New York Giants get the No. 1 pick from the Tennessee Titans? – Big Blue View
The New York Giants missed in an effort to get Matthew Stafford. They still need a quarterback. Actually, multiple quarterbacks. As GM Joe Schoen said at the NFL Scouting Combine “everybody knows that.” The Giants will almost certainly draft one. To draft the quarterback who ends up highest on their list, likely to be Cam Ward of Miami if you believe most of the current chatter, there is only one way to guarantee the chance to do so. Trade up from No. 3 to No. 1 with the Tennessee Titans Can the Giants actually pull that off? It seems like many around the league expect them to try, with Dianna Russini of The Athletic saying the Giants are “a team to watch on multiple fronts” in their effort to find a quarterback.
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