Preparing to start the Trey Lance era, the 49ers are — as of now, at least — not planning to deal away their most versatile weapon. Deebo Samuel‘s trade request is not expected to lead to a deal, with The Athletic’s Connor Hughes noting the 49ers have “zero intention” of parting ways with the All-Pro weapon (Twitter link).
Employing former 49ers assistant Mike LaFleur as their offensive coordinator and having not exactly kept a secret they are chasing wide receivers, the Jets do not expect Samuel to be dealt — unless a team submits a monster offer — according to USA Today’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). Gang Green has monitored Samuel’s market, along with D.K. Metcalf‘s, after striking out on wideouts earlier this offseason. No deal is imminent, though NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero said during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show this trade request occurred weeks ago (video link).
[RELATED: Samuel, Brown, McLaurin Won’t Participate In Offseason Programs]
The Jets have two top-10 picks, a low-cost quarterback and staffers familiar with Samuel’s talents; they would make sense as perhaps the lead suitor here. They were prepared to pay Tyreek Hill a top-market contract. Samuel, 26, is two years younger and coming off his first All-Pro campaign. A team parting with a stronger offer than what it took for the Dolphins to acquire Hill would likely be necessary here, Hughes adds.
The 49ers have eyed a Samuel extension for a while now, with John Lynch indicating in February such a deal has been budgeted. Removing Samuel from the 49ers’ first Lance-directed offense would create an immense challenge for Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco has Lance tied to a rookie deal, opening the door for Samuel and Nick Bosa re-ups. This regime did trade DeForest Buckner after intending to extend him, but Samuel has proven essential at a thinner position for the 49ers compared to their defensive line surplus at the time of the Buckner deal.
Samuel’s hesitancy about a 49ers extension does involve his increased usage as a running back, Pelissero adds. The 49ers gave the physical receiver 59 carries last season, tying Tavon Austin‘s 2017 output for the most by a wide receiver since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Samuel is the only player in NFL history to compile 1,400-plus receiving yards and 300-plus rushing yards in a season. Although Samuel averaged 6.2 yards per carry, concerns about wear and tear are understandable here. This is an issue the other teams with contract-year wideouts do not have to navigate and one of the more intriguing wrinkles affecting a player’s long-term future with a team to surface in a while.
He ain’t going any where. Lol
I don’t blame him. They use him as a gadget player and his talents suggest he can simply be a dominant receiver. His heavy usage out of the backfield will undoubtably shorten his career and thus earning potential. He wants to be used as a WR. Do it or trade him.
He’s crazy effective once the balls in his hands does he want to be randy moss? Not sure he has the speed
If Randy Moss were the only model of star receivers, there would hardly be any star receivers.
Speed? He’s missing a lot more than just the speed. He’s only 6ft and doesn’t have anywhere near the jumping ability or hands of Randy.
He’d be crazy to leave Shanahan.
Lynch would be crazy to let him go.
Yes he would be crazy to leave Shanachoke who has won exactly NOTHING as a coach but hey he has CHOKED away 2 Super Bowls. Stop with all the “ Genius Crap” dude hasn’t won anything.
And how many coaches have won a super bowl in recent years? McDermott and Lafleur haven’t either, and I think they’re very good coaches too.
There are a lot of really good coaches who haven’t won a super bowl. Andy Reid just won his first a few years back. Was he not a great coach before that? Was Tony Dungy not a great coach before he won one? That ridiculous take is so tired please learn a little perspective. Or maybe come up with a fresh take instead of using recycled ideas from someone else because you can’t think of anything for yourself.
Wow.. What an overstatement. It’s not on Shanahan that the Falcons choked that game away, but you know what is on him? He’s kept the Niners in contention with cohesive game plans and an average QB for several years. Deebo was in position to do what he did because of Shanahan’s creative play calling and if he goes somewhere else and lines up as “just” a WR, he’ll get less touches. Shanahan has maximized the guy’s potential.
Not that I expect it at all…but man this makes so much sense for New England. Please, Bill…
Working out a deal makes the most sense for everyone. And as a football fan, I want to keep watching him and Shanahan work together.
No surprise here. Samuel is by far the most effective single player in that offense. Shanahan doesn’t mind rotating in running backs, but he loves YAC receivers, and Samuel is the best in the league right now at that. The 9ers will do everything in their power to retain him.
Kittles aight
True, true. I was neglectful in not mentioning him. It would be great to see him return to form after his injury, however.
Sad little fans of crap teams like the Jets or Pats are salivating… lol. You all aren’t getting Deebo. Plus he would be absolutely frustrated with garbage QBs like Mac or Wilson.
For all the heat you give to Wilson and Mac, let’s not act like Josh Allen was amazing in his rookie year either…
Yawn. Neither are 6’4 240 with a rocket arm and an amazing brain. Pretending that MCCorkle or Mormon Drew Locke are in the same stratosphere is frankly just lying to yourself. Do better, be better.
1.) I didn’t say Wilson and Mac were as good as Josh Allen. I said it’s too early to write them off.
2.) Being big is not a prerequisite for being a good quarterback. Otherwise, Kyler would suck and JaMarcus Russell would be amazing.
3.) Having a rocket arm does not guarantee success either. Look at Kyle Boller. You need accuracy as well; how do you think Drew Brees stayed in the league for so long?
4.) Really? You don’t think Mac Jones and Zach Wilson at least have the potential to be high IQ players? I hope you’re kidding
5.) You can’t tell me to do better and then come up with those nicknames. At least I’m not a Bills homer
Again yawn. Nobody said anything about being big or arm strength being prerequisites to being good. It’s just Josh had all those tools and neither joke of a QB Wilson or MCCorkle have them. Everyone tries to pretend that their bust of a QB has a chance by saying the lame and played out “Josh Allen wasn’t good as a rookie” … again Yawn. Josh Allen jumped over a 6’5 LB in Minnesota and threw a 60 yard touchdown over Jalen “trash” Ramsey in his rookie year. He had everything and just needed the team. I understand that reading comprehension is hard for people like you… and I’ll forgive you for it. You relax, eat your jello old man and have a great night.
“Have a great night.” Yeah, you can kindly go fondle yourself as well
Stabby, that was completely uncalled for. Comments like that look straight out of the comment section on ProFootballTalk, honestly, and all they is hurt whatever point you’re trying to make. Come on man, do better.
Stabby… You should do something about that narcolepsy.
Would be cool to the see nick join his brother in Los Angeles but doubt it will happen with mack there
If I’m Belichick I’m calling Lynch and putting this year’s 1 on the table plus a 4th this year, a 3rd rounder next year (Pats should get a 3rd round comp for JC so it makes their own 3rd expendable) and any receiver on the current roster not named Bourne or Parker let’s say Agholor. So a 1, 3, 4, and Agholor for Deebo.
Not even close to enough for Deebo
As a Pats fan, I agree that this isn’t nearly enough. They would need to add 2 more 1s and remove Agholor – he’s negative value.
Tyreek was dealt for a 1, 2, 4, 4, 6. Patriots 1 is 7 picks higher than #29. That difference alone is equivalent to a 3 rounder according to the trade value chart. So if you compare it to the Reek deal, it’s a 1, 2, 4, 4, 6 for essentially a 1, 3, 3, 4 and a player to take the roster spot. Don’t even bother telling me that Deebo is better than Tyreek lol if that’s what you’re tryna say
Samuel being better is debatable, but his being younger is not. Not to mention the fact that San Fran seems more attached to Samuel than K.C. was to Hill-who also has more of a history of off field distractions for management than does Samuel. I think three firsts is a bit much, but Samuel will likely fetch a higher asking price than Hill did. I don’t think that’s not doable, however.
Wow you value Kendrick Bourne that much whoda thunk
He’ll be leaving them in free agency next year. Niners will be left empty handed.
*cough*Franchise tag*cough*
The reason players like Deebo and Russell Wilson complain in the media is because it is the only leverage they have. The team can use the Franchise Tag three times if it so chooses. He is really under four more years of team control, not one.
Or he can sit out the entire year and then sign anywhere he wants.
Actually sitting out “the entire year” would make his contract toll for another year. He has to complete one more year in order to get to free agency. And you don’t complete that season by sitting out.
Then the club can franchise tag him for three seasons after that. Complaining about their contract publicly and asking to be traded publicly are the player’s only leverage. This all stems from non-guaranteed contracts. If the owner can cut you before the contract is up, I guess the player doesn’t have to play for the whole contract they signed? This isn’t an issue in MLB.
A team would never do this, Deebo has a lot more leverage than what it may appear.
Unless he retires for good, he has zero leverage at this point.
I’m a Jets fan and I love Samual’s talents but I’m not sure they are ready for a player of his caliber at this moment. Jets have many holes to fill and if they can grab Williams at 10 might be the better choice instead of dealing 5 picks and $25+ million a year.
Agreed if that’s the cost. They’d do it straight up for #10, but I don’t see them giving up #4 or any future picks.
Couple years ago the 49ers traded away Buckner and drafted his replacement in Kinlaw with the 1st they got from the Colts
Vikings did the same with Diggs and wound up drafting Jefferson and other picks
49ers should trade Samuel and use the picks to put good pieces around Lance. With the first they’d get they could easily pick up someone like Drake London or Garrett Wilson plus use more draft capitol to fill out the roster.
49ers should definitely entertain offers.
They can’t say they are entertaining offers, even if they are. It’s negotiation.
Deebo great becasue of the offense he in. Let’s see him in a different style offense and than tell me he worth 25 plus . As of right now he not doesn’t matter what he did.
Huh? He’s the kind of talent you build an offense around – you don’t build him around an offense.
Jacksonville would pay him Christian Kirk money and that is the real problem. You can say he isn’t worth this or that, but Jacksonville and Kirk reset the market. That is the price of a number one WR and Deebo is certainly a number 1.
I’m not saying he not good . I’m saying is he worth 25 mill. On any other team would he get the stats he did not sure . But because he was on a Kyle run offense is the one reason he had the stats he did. Most if not all would use him as a wr only.
Copy. I’m not arguing his production will be the same or equal in another system. What human is “worth 25 mill”? None. I’m saying the market for a #1 WR is 25 million now. Pay or don’t, but Deebo can and should ask for a market price.
Trade Deebo and Jimmy G to the Jets or Texans for a first round pick in 2022 and 2023
Why not make it third rounders? Better deal for the Texans!
Because deebo worth at least one first . Jimmy would get you 3rds .
Never mind!
Deebo is treating Lynch like he’s Craig from Friday
Who won that fight?
NFL is becoming the NBA. Players have all the control. I brought up arbitration in the last article but that wouldn’t even solve the issue. Unlike baseball, the owners know there’s too much money to lose and they just suck up whatever the players want.
One injury away from being worth $0.
That’s why he wants to get paid now and stop carrying the football like a running back.
Yet it is foolish to put all that cap money into a non-QB.
I suppose… so trade him. Like he asked.