Deebo Samuel

Following rumors of a potential Deebo Samuel trade at the 2024 NFL draft last week, there is some belief within the league that the San Francisco 49ers will move on from the star wide receiver after the 2024 season.

According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, an anonymous NFL executive said that the Niners "may have to cut or trade" Samuel after the season.

The exec suggested that a deal isn't likely to happen prior to the season, saying, "I don't know why you would mess with a good thing now." However, the executive added that the 49ers likely "would have" traded Samuel at the draft had they been able to get a first-round pick in return.

Since wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is entering the final year of his contract in 2024, the primary trade chatter surrounding the Niners focused on him leading up to the draft.

ESPN's Dan Graziano clarified the 49ers' stance, though, reporting that their preference would have been to move Samuel rather than Aiyuk had they made a trade.

No deal went down, but general manager John Lynch did seemingly start preparing for life after Deebo or Aiyuk, as he selected Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 overall pick in the first round of the draft.

Samuel, 28, signed a three-year, $71.55 million contract extension with the Niners following a brief dispute, meaning he is now under contract through 2025.

Per Spotrac, trading Samuel before June 1 would have saved $6.8 million against the salary cap, but it also would have resulted in nearly $21.8 million in dead cap.

A post-June 1 trade would save the 49ers $21.9 million against the cap this season with $6.6 million in dead cap in 2024 and $15.1 million in dead cap in 2025.

Although that would be doable, trading Samuel before the 2024 season for draft capital that can't help until 2025 seems unlikely since the Niners reached the Super Bowl last season and figure to be contenders again this season.

A pre-June 1 release or trade in 2025 would saddle the 49ers with $15.1 million in dead cap, but it would also save them $9 million against the cap, which may be a necessary move if San Francisco signs Aiyuk to an extension.

Samuel is one of the most dangerous and versatile wide receivers in the game due to his ability to contribute as a pass-catcher and de facto running back, but that usage has also led to him often getting injured.

Deebo has never gone a full NFL season without missing at least one game, including missing four games in 2022 and two games last season.

Samuel's healthiest season in 2021 was also his best season, as he set career highs with 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and also had six receiving touchdowns. Additionally, Samuel rushed for 365 and eight scores en route to Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors.

Last season was Samuel's second-best campaign as a pass-catcher with 60 grabs for 892 yards and seven touchdowns, but he was clearly behind Aiyuk in the pecking order, as Aiyuk led the team with 1,342 receiving yards.

Samuel was also behind tight end George Kittle's 1,020 receiving yards, and he was only four on the team in catches behind Aiyuk, Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey.

That isn't to say that Samuel is necessarily expendable, but given his injury history, it may make more sense for the Niners to part ways with him than Aiyuk if forced to make a choice.

With that in mind, there could be an added sense of urgency for head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers to get the job done in 2024 by winning a Super Bowl before Samuel potentially departs.

The San Francisco 49ers didn't trade any of Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel or Jauan Jennings during the NFL draft. But it's hard to imagine the trio remaining in San Francisco for the long term.

According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, "The Niners are planning for life without at least one (if not two) of them as soon as 2025. ... The plan has been and remains to try to work out a long-term contract extension for Aiyuk. If that happens, difficult decisions on Samuel and Jennings (an unrestricted free agent) will await after the season."

The Niners were very proactive regarding the future of the receiver position during the draft, selecting Ricky Pearsall in the first round and Jacob Cowing in the fourth.

Paying both Aiyuk and Samuel would become prohibitive, especially with Nick Bosa already on the largest non-quarterback contract in football and Brock Purdy likely to eventually get a lucrative extension himself.

Because the Niners have a playmaker in Christian McCaffrey who offers a similar dual-threat skill set to Samuel, keeping Aiyuk likely makes the most sense for San Francisco. Regardless, there is serious uncertainty regarding the future of the position for the defending NFC champions.

The Buffalo Bills are not interested in a pair of wide receivers on the trade block, general manager Brandon Beane said, per The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia.

"The cap is the cap," Beane said. "There's no trade coming. I know everyone wants to link us to every trade in the league."

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel and Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins have both been mentioned frequently in trade rumors, and the Bills could use some help at the position, but Beane isn't interested in a trade given Buffalo's salary cap situation.

There was speculation that San Francisco would move on from Samuel this offseason, and the 49ers drafting wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round added to that buzz.

Many expected a trade sometime during the draft for San Francisco to potentially move up, but after not trading Samuel on Day 1, general manager John Lynch "didn't entertain" trade talks on Day 2.

"We didn't entertain any of that today," Lynch told reporters. "We're happy with our wide receiver group. Actually, more than happy. We're thrilled with it. And thrilled to add Ricky to it to make it stronger."

While the 49ers didn't budge during the draft, they could still look to move Samuel before the season begins. If they choose not to, they will have a loaded wide receiver room next season.

A Higgins trade has been in the making for a while now. The Bengals used a franchise tag on him, prompting a trade request from the fourth-year player. While Samuel could remain with the 49ers, it seems inevitable Higgins will be on his way out of Cincinnati at one point or another.

The Bills are desperate for wide receivers after losing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason, but they aided their needs by drafting Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman in the second round.

Buffalo's wide receiver room could still use some work, but landing Coleman is a step in the right direction.

If the San Francisco 49ers move a wide receiver this offseason in a trade, expect it to be Deebo Samuel, not Brandon Aiyuk.

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano: "First of all, my understanding is that the Niners would prefer to move Samuel, not Aiyuk. [Ricky] Pearsall is more similar as a player to Samuel than he is to Aiyuk. Samuel is scheduled to earn nearly $21 million in salary and count more than $28.6 million against their salary cap in 2024. But in large part because of those numbers, Samuel is the more difficult of the two to trade."

That mirrors a report from Mike Silver from the first night of the NFL Draft:

Much of what makes Samuel special—his ability to move around the formation as a receiver and running back and breaking off big plays with the ball in his hands—is the same sort of versatility that Christian McCaffrey also offers. Aiyuk's abilities on the outside offer a more unique skill set for San Francisco in particular.

Keeping both Samuel and Aiyuk would be expensive, though it's a possibility. The former has just two years left on his deal, while Aiyuk will be a free agent next offseason after playing on the fifth-year option in 2024.

The Niners have been knocking on the door for a title in recent years, though it hasn't quite opened for them yet. Losing either Samuel or Aiyuk would make those efforts all the more difficult.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters Friday that he "didn't entertain" trade talks involving wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft.

"We didn't entertain any of that today," Lynch said, per Cam Inman of the Mercury News. "We're happy with our wide receiver group. Actually, more than happy. We're thrilled with it. And thrilled to add Ricky to it to make it stronger"

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Thursday that the 49ers "had conversations with teams" about trading either Samuel or Aiyuk, although San Francisco stayed pat at No. 31 and selected wide receiver Ricky Pearsall instead.

Pearsall was coming off an impressive senior season at Florida, hauling in 65 receptions for 965 yards and a touchdown.

While the selection resulted in more speculation regarding the future of Aiyuk and Samuel, Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media Thursday that no trades came close to happening despite acknowledging that discussions took place (via ESPN's Nick Wagoner).

Lynch added that the front office continues to have positive talks with Aiyuk regarding a potential long-term contract.

The veteran receivers didn't appear to be upset with the selection either, as Aiyuk called the choice a "fire pick" in a text message that was sent to Lynch and Shanahan (per Wagoner).

While he was aware of the trade rumors, Samuel was also calm when he found out about San Francisco selecting another receiver and expressed his openness about remaining with the organization.

"I know what's going on, but it is what it is," he told Russini on Friday. "I'm good staying with them. I'm chilling."

If all three players are still on the roster by the time training camp begins, the 49ers will enter the 2024 season with one of the NFL's top wide receiver trios. With Brock Purdy under center, San Francisco will look to defend its NFC title and secure a Super Bowl victory after narrowly falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in Feb. 2024.

Amid trade rumors surrounding wide receiver Deebo Samuel, the San Francisco 49ers drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday.

There were also reports Thursday night that San Francisco is more likely to trade Samuel than his co-star, Brandon Aiyuk.

Given the situation, Pearsall could serve as Samuel's replacement. Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Samuel isn't worried about a trade at the moment.

"I know what's going on," Samuel said. "But it is what it is. I'm good staying with them. I'm chilling."

Since recording his only 1,000+ receiving yard season in 2021, Samuel notched 632 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 and 892 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. He has All-Pro level talent, but is still looking to get over the hump and be more consistent year in and year out.

While trade rumors have swirled throughout San Francisco regarding Samuel and Aiyuk, 49ers general manager John Lynch said after drafting Pearsall that keeping the two on the team is still a priority, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner.

"I know that we're continuing to have positive talks with [Aiyuk] and we are really efforting to get something done with him," Lynch said. "We're excited about continuing down that path and Brandon being a part of this team.

"Deebo is a part of this team and a big part of this team. We feel great about that group and we feel like we just made it better with another really good addition to it, who complements the group real well."

Taking Pearsall in the first round will add to further speculation about whether Samuel or Aiyuk will be on their way out, but San Francisco could keep both to bolster an already strong offense.

As the San Francisco 49ers explore trade options regarding their star receivers, the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills are reportedly "highly unlikely" to deal for Deebo Samuel.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the news Friday amid reports that both have interest in a deal.

Earlier Friday, CBS Sports' Josina Anderson reported the Patriots and 49ers had "preliminary discussions" about Samuel on Thursday. Boston Sports Journal's Mike Giardi later noted the Bills were also eying the star receiver.

The situation involving San Francisco's receiver duo of Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk has escalated dramatically throughout the week.

Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle went from reporting on Tuesday that Samuel was told he wouldn't be traded to now being "likely" moved after the 49ers used their first-round pick to select Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.

Aiyuk would now seem more likely to be staying because the 49ers were reportedly seeking a mid-first-round pick for their 26-year-old wideout.

It's plausible the 49ers could trade Aiyuk for a 2025 first-round pick, but it doesn't make sense that a team expecting to compete for a Super Bowl next season would choose to make itself worse in 2024 by not getting an immediate return.

The contract situations for Aiyuk and Samuel also present a problem for the 49ers. Aiyuk's is more pressing because his rookie deal ends after the 2024 season. He could be seeking an extension worth more than $25 million per year, especially in the wake of Amon-Ra St. Brown (four years, $120 million) and A.J. Brown (three years, $96 million) getting deals this week.

Samuel is signed through 2025 and remains an electric playmaker, but he does come with plenty of risk. He has missed 15 games in the regular season due to injuries over the past four seasons. The 2021 All-Pro only played nine snaps in San Francisco's playoff win over the Green Bay Packers in January due to a shoulder injury.

The Patriots can afford to take the risk on a player like Samuel. They used the No. 3 pick in the draft on Drake Maye to give them their quarterback of the future. He needs reliable playmakers to help his transition into the NFL.

New England's current receiver depth chart features K.J. Osborn, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton and Jaelen Raegor. That's not a friendly environment for a rookie quarterback to develop in.

San Francisco's asking price will likely determine if a deal comes together. The Patriots have one pick in each of the second (No. 34) and third rounds (No. 68) to potentially build an offer around.

Samuel has put up more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in two of the past three seasons. His 12 total touchdowns last season ranked second on the 49ers.