Jayden Daniels 'excited' for Deebo Samuel to juice up his stats
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had one of the greatest rookie seasons by a quarterback in recent memory, and his team's addition of wideout Deebo Samuel might make his 2025 stats look even better.
During an appearance as a speaker at Fanatics Fest over the weekend, Daniels expressed his excitement to join forces with the speedy receiver, whom the Commanders traded for in March. If things work out as the second-year quarterback hopes, he will get the double benefit of more passing yards for less effort.
Advertisement
"I'm excited to throw him a little screen and hopefully on the stat sheet it says a touchdown for 80 yards and I didn't have to do any of the work," Daniels joked in a video posted by The Sports Place.
DEEBO SAMUEL: Commanders HC calls veteran WR 'one of the fastest players' on team
There is some truth in Daniels' joke.
In 2024, Samuel averaged 8.3 yards after catch per reception – the third-highest average of any wide receiver in the NFL. Only Denver Broncos wideout Marvin Mims and the Detroit Lions' Jameson Williams were better after the catch, according to Pro Football Reference.
That's a skill set the Commanders will be happy to have in their passing offense to complement that of lead receiver Terry McLaurin.
Advertisement
McLaurin earned his second career Pro Bowl nod in 2024 as he continued to find success over the middle and in deep parts of the field. According to Pro Football Focus, his average depth of target was 13.9 yards – 14th-highest in the NFL – but his yards after catch average was 3.6 – 59th in the league.
Samuel, meanwhile, had an average depth of target of 6.9 yards per PFF (89th) but averaged his aforementioned 8.3 yards after catch per reception to make up for it.
He joins the Commanders with hope on both sides that a change of scenery will help enable him to return to his 2021 levels of production, when he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards – leading the league with his 18.2 yards per reception. In the three years since, Samuel has not surpassed 900 receiving yards.
Samuel finished the 2024 season with 51 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns in the air. He also had 42 carries for 136 rushing yards and an additional touchdown on the ground.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jayden Daniels: Deebo Samuel can do all the work on screen passes
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
16 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Cal Raleigh continues hot streak, hits 32nd homer of the season
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Cal Raleigh picked up right where he left off last week. Raleigh hit his major league-leading 32nd home run in the ninth inning of the Seattle Mariners' 11-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night. Raleigh was chosen AL player of the week after he hit .417 with five homers and 12 RBIs in six games last week. Much of that came in the Mariners' series with the Cubs, when Raleigh hit four home runs as the Mariners took two of three at Wrigley Field. Monday's home run came off left-handed reliever Joey Wentz, a two-run shot to left field off a high changeup that Wentz left over the middle of the plate. It was Raleigh's fourth straight game with a home run. 'He's just in a really good spot,' Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. 'I think he feels comfortable, clearly, and he's getting good pitches. And when he gets them, he doesn't miss them.' In his last 30 games, Raleigh is hitting .331 (39 for 118) with 17 home runs and 36 RBIs. For the season, he's hitting .278 with 68 RBIs and a 1.048 OPS. The 28-year-old catcher, who signed a $105 million, six-year contract with Seattle this spring, needs three more homers to match Ken Griffey Jr. for the most before the All-Star break in Mariners history. 'He's hit a lot of home runs, but he's found a lot of barrels, and when you're hitting .270 with that kind of power, you're putting up a lot of good at-bats,' Wilson said. 'He's hitting the ball hard. He's hitting the ball on the line, and then occasionally he's getting ... underneath it a little bit more and driving it out of the ballpark.' Mariners starter Bryan Woo struck out nine in six innings to earn the win on Monday. He's pitched at least six innings in each of his 15 starts this year and sports a 3.12 ERA. But even Woo shook his head when asked how he'd pitch to Raleigh right now. 'I'd put up four fingers and let him take first base,' said Woo. 'Yeah, I'm not pitching to him.'
Associated Press
16 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Nats catcher Keibert Ruiz leaves game after apparently getting hit in head by teammate's foul ball
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz left Monday night's game against the San Diego Padres after apparently getting hit on the head by a foul ball hit by teammate Josh Bell. Ruiz was immediately tended to and left the dugout. He was replaced by Riley Adams. There was no immediate word on the extent of Ruiz's injury. Bell's plate appearance came during a four-run fourth inning. Bell, who played with the Padres during the second half of 2022, hit a sacrifice fly. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
16 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Palmeiras comes back to tie Inter Miami 2-2, sending both teams to Club World Cup round of 16
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Palmeiras came from behind to play Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw in front of an electric crowd at Hard Rock Stadium, and both clubs advanced to the Club World Cup round of 16 on Monday night. A tie was enough to send both teams to the knockout round after they entered Monday's match tied atop the Group A standings with four points apiece. For a while, it looked like Inter Miami would advance as winners of the group after taking a 2-0 lead deep into regulation on goals by Tadeo Allende in the 16th and veteran Luis Suarez in the 65th. The historic Brazilian club Palmeiras clawed back, with a goal from Paulinho in the 80th and then the equalizer from Mauricio a couple minutes before the end of regulation. Messi, who turns 39 on Tuesday, had numerous chances but did not score Monday despite the crowd chanting his name throughout the match. Key moment Messi was seen shaking his head just after Mauricio hammered the tying goal past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari in the 87th minute, as Miami's lead had slipped away in a matter of minutes. Takeaways Palmeiras finished as winners of Group A and will face fellow Brazilian squad Botafogo in the round of 16, while Inter Miami will face Group B winner and Messi's former club Paris Saint-Germain. ___ AP soccer:
