The 49ers-Deebo Samuel road has been a rocky one for some time now. After a hold-in led to a new deal in 2022, it didn’t take long for trade talks to circulate involving one (and eventually both) of the team’s top wide receivers. The veteran weapon was not moved, in part due to the 49ers’ lack of satisfaction with the offers that were coming in for him, and this offseason doesn’t appear likely to bring in bigger offers. 
During an appearance on The John Keim Report, ESPN’s Nick Wagoner gave his opinion on Samuel’s trade value in 2025. He reminded us that, last year, it was teammate Brandon Aiyuk who was getting the Round 1 and 2 offers that San Francisco was hoping to get for Samuel. Samuel, on the other hand, was receiving interest from teams with late-Day 2 offers or worse. This offseason, Wagoner predicts that the offers will all be picks from Day 3 of the draft.
Part of that is due to performance and health issues from Samuel since his extension was signed. Another part of it is the publicity of the situation. As Wagoner states, the 49ers are dead set on moving on from Samuel, and Samuel is dead set on moving on from the 49ers, and the whole of the NFL world knows this. This total transparency doesn’t give either side much bargaining power over a new team interested in acquiring Samuel’s talents.
Michael David Smith of NBC Sports goes as far as to say that, though many teams appear to be interested in Samuel, their pursuit may not come via trade offers. Smith indicates that teams could continue to lowball the 49ers with their trade offers knowing that the 49ers could cut Samuel if they can’t work out a trade. At that point, Samuel’s free agency would become fair game for everyone.
This decision by San Francisco would likely need to occur by March 22. That day, a month from now, is the date on which the team would owe Samuel a $15.4MM option bonus if he’s still on the roster. If the 49ers can’t work out a trade by then, it seems extremely likely that they would cut Samuel, knowing that both sides are dead set on moving on from each other. Opposing teams seeking to acquire the 29-year-old would then just need to wait the 49ers out in order to avoid spending draft capital in securing Samuel’s services.
He’ll be in KC by training camp. Book it
Anyone who has watched his film the last year is not shocked at all by that.
Can’t afford him at his current price tag. He’d have to agree to a new contract similar to Diggs.
KC currently has 3 mill in cap space before signing their rookie class.
They’re also set to lose
Trey Smith, Bolton, Reid, Omenihu, Perine and Hunt this off season.
Restructuring won’t help cause it’ll mess up their 2026 and 2027 cap room where
2026 Chenal, Thuney, Cook, Watson, Pacheco are up
2027 Taylor, Danna, Rice, McDuffie, Karlarfis, Tranquil are up.
Not so sure the 49ers cut Samuel. Definitely a possibility but
Another option not discussed here is 49ers hold on to Samuel into summer and heading into training camp in July August
They’d be looking to move him hoping a team suffers an injury to their wr core.
And if nothing happens they can just ship him off in a deal for a day 3 pick anyways like teams routinely do during roster cuts anyways where they swap draft slots. So like Samuel and a 7th for a 5th or something.
If they don’t trade or cut by March 22 they owe him a 15.4 roster bonus. Would be crazy to have to give him that if they really want him gone.
Well cut him or hold on to him hoping to get a decent draft pick if someone suffers a serious injury to their wr core. Really the two main options.
Big risk to keep him after paying bonus. Not sure if ghry could get enough in return for the cost.
Its a gamble no doubt, but you could possibly squeeze a 3rd or 4th out of someone who loses someone important to their playoff hopes during training camp. But course you also run the risk Samuel gets hurt during training camp. Tons of risk involved.
If they trade him they probably want a pick in this draft so they would want to do something with him prior to his roster bonus. By holding onto him into the summer they pay him a large bonus and don’t get a pick until the following draft.
Well a 2026 4th or 3rd has more value than a 2025 5th 6th 7th. Again they’re gambling to get a better draft pick by holding onto him hoping someone suffers an injury during pre season and is desperate enough to trade for him so their season isn’t lost.
Not a chance.
Hindsight obviously, but I still don’t get why they never took the jets offer of #10 for him and a second.