Deebo Samuel

Deebo Samuel's three-year, $73.5 million extension with the San Francisco 49ers includes $58.1 million in guaranteed money but also contains some solid incentives should the team continue to utilize him as a running back.

ESPN's Adam Schefter shared the details:

Deebo Samuel will receive $650,000 per year for each year he has 380 or more rushing yards.

Samuel also will earn $150,000 if he scores three rushing TDs in any one year.

He maxes out at $650,000 per year and 1.95 million over the life of his new contract.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 1, 2022

Because the 49ers were beset by injuries at the running back position last season—and because Samuel is so dynamic with the ball in his hands—the Niners often used him in a backfield role.

It worked—the 26-year-old Samuel rushed 59 times for 365 yards and eight scores, and the Niners advanced all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

Add in his 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, and Samuel was one of the most game-changing playmakers in football last year.

But that new role also didn't seem to sit well with Samuel. In April, after Samuel reportedly requested a trade, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said on The Rich Eisen Show that Samuel wasn't interested in playing both wideout and running back:

Deebo's trade request became public just after we hung up with @TomPelissero in our first hour so we had to call him back to explain what went wrong in San Francisco:#NFL #NFLDraft#FTTB pic.twitter.com/lveW0WP1fD

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 20, 2022

It sounds like there's multiple layers to this. But certainly one of them is Deebo Samuel wants to be a receiver and not a receiver/running back. His rushing attempts were significantly up last season from where they've been in the past. We all know that he's a really, really physical player, but there probably are some concerns here about longevity. The counterpoint to that, of course, is that part of the reason that Deebo Samuel is so valuable is because he's versatile. ... But in the big picture, it sounds like the role is part of the reason that Deebo wants to play somewhere else, where he may just be a true wide receiver and potentially tack on some years to his career.

The Niners didn't trade Samuel, however, and the two sides were able to patch up the relationship and work toward a lucrative extension.

Now, if the Niners continue to use Samuel in that dual-threat role, he'll have some financial incentives potentially coming.

What would you pay to own the world's best pancake-maker?

The Indianapolis Colts are contemplating a similar question with guard Quenton Nelson, who's set to enter the final year of his rookie contract.

However, the organization should do everything in its power not to let that happen and come to an agreement on a contract extension sooner rather than later—it should have already happened yesterday.

An obscene amount of money changed hands this offseason as the NFL's position market resets. A few individuals are now doing their best impressions of Scrooge McDuck swimming in a vault of cash.

Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel, Stefon Diggs, D.J. Moore, Chris Godwin, Mike Williams, A.J. Brown, Christian Kirk, Allen Robinson II, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Terry McLaurin, DK Metcalf, Cam Robinson, Terron Armstead and Brandon Scherff combined to sign deals with over $1.1 billion guaranteed the moment ink touched paper. That's billion with a 'B' and doesn't include a single defender.

Of course, Nelson, who's often considered the game's best interior blocker, is "not focused" on a new deal, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer. He shouldn't be.

The Colts, on the other hand, should make it their top priority. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer expects the Colts front office to make a "strong push to get [a] deal done before the end of summer."

A prominent NFL coach told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, "He's still the guy you would start a team with [at guard]. You just have to watch him to know he's a special player who can dominate a game at times."

Since entering the league in 2018, the 26-year-old blocker has earned three first-team All-Pro and four Pro Bowl nods. Although injuries slowed him a year ago—a left foot injury suffered during training camp followed by a high right ankle sprain during the season—Nelson is back to full strength this summer.

"Good, strong, healthy—just ready to go," Nelson told reporters last month. "Excited for camp [and that] I'm not going in there with two surgeries."

Full pads will be on this week, and Nelson will get to do what he does best once again.

When fully healthy, the former sixth overall draft pick is a force of nature capable of overwhelming some of the biggest and most athletic men walking this planet.

Prior to the injuries, Nelson held the highest grade among guards since entering the league, according to Pro Football Focus. The site's WAR metric labeled him the game's most valuable offensive lineman—not just as a guard—during the 2019 and 2020 campaigns. He's allowed only four sacks in four seasons.

Nelson's style of play is just as important as the performance itself since he serves as the team's tone-setter.

Football is a game of imposing one's will over an opponent. Nelson's physicality and on-field temperament serve as the foundation of the entire Colts offense. He's going to uproot defenders at the point attack. He'll always find someone to hit. Upon arrival, a good chance exists that a defender will find himself on the ground or flying through the air.

Indianapolis features one of the game's best ground games, and its starting O-line is considered among the league's best, with Nelson leading the way.

But an argument immediately jumps to the forefront about what a franchise should invest in a guard. It's not considered a premium position, nor do the Colts prefer to completely reset the positional market. However, the latter might be what it takes to get Nelson under contract through the rest of his prime years.

"Quenton is a Colt," general manager Chris Ballard said earlier this offseason (h/t Indianapolis' 91.3FM WIBC). "I want him to be a Colt long-term. When we do the contract, we will work through that."

Brandon Scherff reset the guard market this offseason when he signed a three-year deal worth $16.5 million annually. That's not even the starting point for Nelson, who's nearly five years younger and has already been named to more All-Pro teams.

"Nelson is widely considered the NFL's best guard by a wide margin and could want closer to $20 million annually," Fowler reported in June. "I have heard the same sentiment from several veteran agents: Nelson will break the bank. While Nelson—who has a career pass block win rate of 94.7 percent—doesn't play left tackle, this might be a left tackle conversation based on money."

Currently, three offensive tackles—Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil—average $20 million or more per season. As the salary cap continues to rise and new television money gets pumped into the NFL's ecosystem, a concerted move to get a deal done now instead of waiting out the market is a far more intelligent play.

As of next offseason, Tristan Wirfs enters the window to sign his first contract extension. The Kansas City Chiefs will once again negotiate with Orlando Brown Jr. after the two sides couldn't reach a deal before the franchise tag deadline. The Cincinnati Bengals will look to keep Jonah Williams in the fold as well.

A potential Rashawn Slater deal is coming down the pipe a year later. Each is a high-profile signing waiting to happen in a market that's likely to be in flux.

A deal at $18-20 million annually for Nelson now will look much better in retrospect as the tackle position resets.

One league tenet states, "Identify and pay early." Why? An organization wants to keep its young talent on the roster through its prime years on terms that often turn out to be favorable in future years.

Similar hurdles can be found with other ongoing negotiations because of how certain individuals are perceived.

The Lamar Jackson drama continues. This particular deal is a little more involved because it's about handling a franchise quarterback the right way, and the Ravens must do so after the curious contracts signed by Watson and Murray.

Watson's fully guaranteed $230 million shook the entire league in its approach to the game's most important position. Meanwhile, the Cardinals don't appear fully committed to Murray despite the organization pulling the "independent study" clause in his new contract, which includes $160 million in practical guarantees.

Furthermore, Jackson's unique skill set makes him a different type of investment based on his integration into the team's run game. Jackson has already set a soft deadline to get something done by the start of the regular season.

"I said there is going to be a cutoff [in talks]," Jackson told reporters Thursday. "So, hopefully."

The San Francisco 49ers agreed to terms with Deebo Samuel on Sunday, but the organization still has an even bigger deal to strike with defensive end Nick Bosa, who could reset the entire defensive market.

The Tennessee Titans' Jeffery Simmons shouldn't be too far behind Bosa as the game's best young interior defender. His standing as a defensive tackle likely lessens his overall value, though, particularly on a team with heavy investments in both of its edge-rushers.

Simmons' representation must argue he's closer to the level of Aaron Donald to demand a $90-plus million deal.

Derwin James Jr. brings more value to the Los Angeles Chargers than a typical safety. He set the standard for what the position should be based on his versatility as a defensive back capable of playing both safety spots, nickel corner, dime linebacker, pressure package defender, etc.

The two-time first-team All-Pro is currently in a "hold-in" and not practicing.

"We're working through his contract situation," Chargers head coach Brandon Staley told reporters Wednesday. "Just making sure that gets situated here. He's out here doing all the walk-throughs, he's going to be working out, but he won't be going full speed until that gets situated."

As the NFL games changes, how teams mix the batter evolves. Specific designations aren't nearly as important as they once were. How an individual affects the game is far more predictive than archaic notions of what the most valuable position is. Guys who cook get paid.

Nelson is a five-star Michelin chef when it comes to flipping dudes and controlling the line. His compensation should reflect his station.

After San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel reportedly received a three-year, $71.6 million contract extension Sunday, Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown took a shot at his former team on social media.

Brown, who received a four-year, $100 million extension when he was traded from the Tennessee Titans to Philadelphia, dismissed the notion that he was the problem in Tennessee:

https://twitter.com/1kalwaysopen_/status/1553902784587698179

Brown likely felt the urge to say something because he's faced waves of criticism from disgruntled Titans fans online throughout the 2022 offseason. Prior to being traded on the night of the NFL draft, Brown expressed his frustration with Tennessee fans who called him out for skipping the team's offseason workouts while awaiting a new contract.

Even after his departure from the Titans, Brown has not held back in addressing fans who troll him online. He declared himself to be "the best receiver to play for [the] franchise" last month while responding to a disparaging tweet.

Brown established himself as one of the best young receivers in the NFL, recording over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the league. A chest injury limited him to 13 games in 2021, and he finished with 63 catches for 869 yards and five touchdowns. The Titans, who had the best record in the AFC at 12-5, were 11-2 in the games Brown played.

Now with the Eagles, Brown is expected to have a similar impact on a team hoping to compete for a division title. The 25-year-old should see a ton of volume as the top target of young quarterback Jalen Hurts, and he should open up opportunities for second-year wideout DeVonta Smith.

Deebo Samuel finally got his wish.

Months after expressing frustration over his contract situation, the 2021 first-team All-Pro wide receiver was rewarded with an extension from the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Samuel received a three-year deal worth $71.6 million with $58.1 million guaranteed. Rapoport noted that the extension could reach a maximum of $73.5 million.

This was not easy. From a trade request to totally rebuilding the relationship. But agent Tory Dandy and #49ers brass deal with it all. In the end, no trade. Samuel gets paid. And everything works out. https://t.co/uG4JTVyGkm

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 31, 2022

Samuel's deal will be added to San Francisco's adjusted salary cap which Spotrac noted was $212.5 million for the upcoming season.

The 26-year-old joins a lengthy list of wide receivers to receive massive deals this offseason. Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin and DK Metcalf are among those who earned substantial paydays in recent months.

Samuel is one of the most versatile weapons in the NFL. Last season, he finished with 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns while adding 365 rushing yards and eight more scores, which set an NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a receiver.

In three NFL seasons, Samuel has recorded 167 receptions for 2,598 yards and 10 touchdowns with 550 rushing yards and 11 scores. He's appeared in 38 games, missing one in 2019 and 2021 and nine in 2020.

When Samuel was disgruntled with his contract, he requested a trade from the 49ers. The team fielded offers for him during the NFL draft but never received a package enticing enough to part ways with the star wideout. Samuel reported to training camp last week but chose not to participate in practice while he awaited a new deal.

Now that he's gotten his wish, Samuel is expected to make a huge impact once again for San Francisco. The 49ers are turning to second-year quarterback Trey Lance as their full-time starter, so he will undoubtedly lean on Samuel as his go-to target this season.

The San Francisco 49ers weren't about to let Deebo Samuel go elsewhere after his incredible 2021 season.

The franchise and the wide receiver reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension on Sunday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The #49ers and star weapon Deebo Samuel worked for months and get it done. He lands a huge deal — 3 year extension worth $73.5M max and $71.55M total. The guarantee is $58.1M. He’ll be 29 years old entering the last year of his deal with the potential for another massive one.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 31, 2022

The 2022 season was set to be the final year of his rookie contract, but Rapoport reported in January that "both sides are interested in looking at a potential blockbuster deal this offseason."

He noted San Francisco is "among the most proactive teams when it comes to contract extensions" and could look to pay Samuel around $20 million per year.

Yet things appeared to take a drastic turn in April when ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported Samuel told the 49ers he wanted to be traded.

Rapoport added more context to the situation, noting Samuel had "been unwilling to engage" in San Francisco's attempt to offer him a long-term deal. Rapoport reported that "money is not at the root of the issues" and noted Samuel has some "issues with how he's used."

While it once seemed like the two sides would be unable to come to an agreement before a potential trade, that changed with Sunday's developments, which keeps him with the only NFL team he has ever suited up for.

The 49ers selected the South Carolina product with a second-round pick in 2019, and he made an immediate impact with 802 receiving yards, three touchdown catches and three touchdown runs as a rookie.

Samuel appeared primed for a breakout effort in 2020 with some experience under his belt, but injuries limited him to just seven games in his second season. That made him a major question mark coming into the 2021 campaign for a team that had Super Bowl aspirations.

All he did was establish himself as one of the best playmakers in the entire league.

The result was his first career Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro nod as he played wide receiver and running back on the way to 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns to go with 59 carries for 365 yards and eight touchdowns.

He posted an NFL-best 18.2 yards per catch and even threw a touchdown pass.

Samuel is electrifying with the ball in his hands, and that didn't stop in the playoffs when he went over 100 all-purpose yards with a touchdown in the win over the Dallas Cowboys. He had a monster conversion with a run on 3rd-and-7 to set up Robbie Gould's winning field goal in the final moments of the victory over the Green Bay Packers as well.

He also scored a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

While it remains to be seen exactly how he will be used, the newly signed receiver is just 26 years old and has a bright future ahead of him after finding his spot as an all-purpose weapon in an offense that knows how to scheme him open and into space.

The 49ers ensured the next part of that future will happen with them.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Saturday that the organization and All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel are in contract negotiations.

According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, Shanahan remarked: "I know they're grinding through it. Nothing has been done yet, but I know they're working hard on it."

Shanahan also downplayed the narrative that Samuel's role on offense has impacted contract negotiations, per PFT's Mike Florio:

“Nope,” Shanahan said. “I was wondering about these press conferences. Now it just clicked. Welcome back. No, guys, Deebo and I talk a lot. We’re good. And we understand our role. I know there’s a lot of noise for five months and tweets and a lot of people are repeating what someone said and repeating and repeating and repeating. There’s a lot of negotiations going on. There’s a lot of money involved. It’s a big business deal, but besides everything else, we’re good.”

Samuel, who is coming off a career year that saw him earn first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2022.

ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported in April that Samuel had requested a trade out of San Francisco, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport followed up with a report that Samuel was unhappy with his usage:

From NFL Now: For more than a week, the #49ers have been dealing with a major issue in their WRs room, as Deebo Samuel requested a trade. pic.twitter.com/PDuN2TsjHz

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 20, 2022

The manner in which Shanahan utilized Samuel last season made him one of the most productive offensive weapons in the NFL, and it also helped the Niners reach the NFC Championship Game.

Samuel set career highs across the board last season with 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, as well as 365 yards and eight more scores on the ground.

The San Francisco offense essentially ran through the 26-year-old wideout, which is likely why the Niners are doing everything they can to sign him to a long-term deal.

While Samuel is present at training camp, David Lombardi of The Athletic described him this week as a "hold-in" since he is doing work on the side and not taking part in practices.

Samuel was essentially quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's best friend on the field last season, as he often took short passes and turned them into dynamic plays, which is why he led the league with 18.2 yards per catch while finishing second in yards after catch.

The Niners have made it clear that they are transitioning from Garoppolo to second-year man Trey Lance as the starting quarterback in 2022, and Samuel could be even more important with Lance under center.

Lance is a dual-threat quarterback who adds another dimension to the San Francisco offense, and there is no telling what he can do in tandem with Samuel, especially with Shanahan at the controls.

The 49ers will likely have to pay Samuel big money to ensure he is in the lineup for Week 1 of the regular season, though, especially since the likes of Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Terry McLaurin, A.J. Brown, D.J. Moore and DK Metcalf have all received new contracts recently.

Shanahan's comments suggest that Samuel and the Niners may be moving in a positive direction, although they only have a little over a month to get something done before the 2022 season commences.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel established himself as one of the best at his position last season, and he's hoping to get paid as such.

Samuel has reported to training camp but is not practicing while he awaits a new deal. San Francisco is reportedly optimistic that a deal will get done soon, but it likely didn't help matters that he watched yet another one of his counterparts get paid before him Thursday.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Seattle Seahawks signed wideout DK Metcalf to a three-year extension worth $72 million with $58.2 million guaranteed. He reportedly received a $30 million signing bonus, which is the highest ever for a wide receiver.

Metcalf's deal makes him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league and puts him in company with the many wideouts to earn major paydays this offseason.

WR deals this offseason include:
▫️Davante Adams: 5-yrs, $142M
▫️Tyreek Hill: 4-yrs, $120M
▫️A.J. Brown: 4-yrs, $100M
▫️Stefon Diggs: 4-yrs, $96M
▫️Cooper Kupp: 3-yrs, $80.1M
▫️Terry McLaurin: 3-yrs, $71M
▫️D.J. Moore: 3-yrs, $61.884M
▫️Mike Williams/Chris Godwin: 3-yrs, $60M

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 28, 2022

So what does Metcalf's deal mean for Samuel? Both of them were second-round picks in 2019 with Samuel being selected at No. 36, 18 picks before Metcalf. They both have made similar impacts in their first three seasons, as Metcalf was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and earned second-team All-Pro honors that year, while Samuel garnered a Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro honors last season.

While Metcalf's receiving production exceeds Samuel's, the latter has a versatility that is unmatched. San Francisco uses Samuel in a variety of ways, making him one of the more dangerous weapons in the NFL. He has 11 career rushing touchdowns, recording eight in 2021.

Based on Samuel's value and usage as a receiver-running back hybrid, negotiations for an extension can be tricky. The 26-year-old also has an extensive injury history, having never played a full season in his first three years.

It can be expected that Samuel's extension will compare favorably to Metcalf's, but San Francisco likely will include some protection for itself in a new deal. Samuel will likely receive similar guaranteed money and a similar average annual value, with possibly another year added to the deal. An extension in the range of four years and $100 million could be enough to entice Samuel to sign.

San Francisco should hope to get a deal done soon. The team is turning to second-year quarterback Trey Lance as its starter this season, so he will need all the weapons he can get. The 49ers will have their first padded practice Monday, so having Samuel present and happy with a new deal will go a long way toward San Francisco's preparations for the upcoming year.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf is set for unrestricted free agency after the 2022 campaign, and he reportedly isn't practicing at the start of training camp with his contract status up in the air.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Metcalf was present at training camp but not practicing, just like Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers and Derwin James Jr. of the Los Angeles Chargers as they attempt to settle "unresolved contract issues."

There has been no shortage of developments at the wide receiver position this offseason with Davante Adams signing a five-year, $141.3 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders after they landed him in a trade with the Green Bay Packers and Tyreek Hill inking a four-year, $120 million extension with the Miami Dolphins after they acquired him from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Elsewhere, A.J. Brown signed a four-year extension worth $100 million with the Philadelphia Eagles after the Tennessee Titans traded him, and Terry McLaurin agreed to a three-year, $71 million extension with the Washington Commanders.

Those moves surely caught the attention of Metcalf, and his status has become one of the biggest storylines of Seattle's camp.

His health may also be a factor with the regular season still more than a month away.

"Metcalf had foot surgery this offseason, and that would be one reason for the team to ease him into a full workload early in camp," Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk wrote Wednesday. "Metcalf is also in the final year of his contract and looking for an extension that would keep him in Seattle for years to come, so the decision not to practice may not be solely related to caution about the condition of his foot."

While expectations may be lower for the Seahawks after they traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos this offseason, Metcalf's availability would greatly improve their chances of contending in the NFC West.

The 2020 Pro Bowler made 75 catches for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago and has never missed a game in his three years in the league.

He is also just 24 years old and figures to be a franchise cornerstone if he and the Seahawks come to terms on a contract extension.

While wide receiver Deebo Samuel is present at San Francisco 49ers training camp and isn't technically holding out, he isn't taking part in practice either.

According to David Lombardi of The Athletic, Samuel will do conditioning on the side Wednesday, making him a "hold-in" rather than a holdout. Lombardi added that the Niners are having contract talks with Samuel's agent, Tory Dandy, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he had a "great talk" with Samuel.

Per Cam Inman of 95.7 The Game, Shanahan expanded a bit further, saying: "Hopefully we can figure something out soon, but we're in a good place today."

In April, ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported that Samuel had asked the 49ers for a trade. The Niners have been resistant, however, and have instead been trying to sign him to a new deal.

While the initial assumption was that Samuel's trade request had to do with money since he can become a free agent at the end of the 2022 season, that may not have been the entire story.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the trade request actually stemmed from Samuel being unhappy with the way the 49ers have used him:

From NFL Now: For more than a week, the #49ers have been dealing with a major issue in their WRs room, as Deebo Samuel requested a trade. pic.twitter.com/PDuN2TsjHz

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 20, 2022

Perhaps no wideout in the NFL had more on their plate last season than Samuel, as he was often used at running back in addition to his duties at wide receiver.

Shanahan's utilization of Samuel paid dividends, as the 49ers surprisingly made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, and Deebo had a career year that should help him land a big contract.

The 26-year-old appeared in 16 regular-season games in 2021, finishing with 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for 365 yards and eight scores, all of which were career highs.

Samuel led the NFL in yards per reception as well at 18.2, which was a jump of over six yards per catch from the previous season.

The Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro is perhaps next in line among receivers to get a fat, new contract, as Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin are just a few of the big-name receivers who have gotten new contracts recently.

Samuel is key to the 49ers' success in 2022 and beyond, especially with second-year quarterback Trey Lance set to take over for Jimmy Garoppolo as the team's starter.

Lance would be devoid of a big-time weapon at wide receiver without Samuel, which is why the 49ers have almost no choice other than to offer him a deal that will convince him to remain with the team moving forward.