Deebo Samuel

49ers Expect Deebo Samuel To Return In Regular Season

December 13th, 2022 at 3:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

DECEMBER 13: Shanahan expects Samuel to miss around three weeks, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. Considering the trouble the 49ers have had with MCL sprains, a possible Week 18 return would represent a big victory for the team. The 49ers face the Seahawks, Commanders and Raiders over the next three weeks. They close the regular season with a home game against the Cardinals.

DECEMBER 12: Deebo Samuel will miss time for the 49ers, and an update Monday indicated the 2021 All-Pro is dealing with multiple injuries. But the team is expecting him to come back before the regular season ends.

The recently extended wideout/running back moonlighter suffered an MCL sprain and a sprained ankle, Matt Barrows of The Athletic tweets. While the 49ers have encountered extensive trouble with MCL sprains this season, it appears Samuel has run into a fairly mild one.

Kyle Shanahan mentioned Sunday this could be a high ankle sprain, but reports Monday have left the word “high” out of the equation. High ankle sprains can linger for several weeks, and the 49ers have seen MCL sprains sideline multiple players for more than a month this year — Elijah Mitchell, Azeez Al-Shaair, Colton McKivitz. Samuel suffering both an MCL sprain and a high ankle issue would seemingly threaten his playoff availability, so it certainly represents good news a regular-season return is expected.

Samuel has a history of significant injuries, having suffered a foot fracture during the 2020 offseason and later that year running into multiple bouts of hamstring trouble. While 2020 effectively turned into a lost season for Samuel (and other 49ers), he bounced back to play 19 games last season. Samuel, 26, zoomed to All-Pro status in 2021, providing tremendous help to the 49ers’ backfield in addition to his receiving duties. After a 59-carry 2021, the former second-round pick has logged 41 carries this year. He suffered the injury on a handoff up the middle.

The 49ers placed a considerable bet on Samuel this offseason, inking him to a three-year extension worth $71.55MM. This situation transformed in the team’s favor, after Samuel requested an offseason trade. He returned to the team and is pairing with fellow stars George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey in a rare three-All-Pro skill-position armada. Kittle and McCaffrey have extensive injury pasts as well, giving the 49ers risks to manage weekly.

San Francisco has lost Samuel and Jimmy Garoppolo over its past two games. The team is not expected to place Garoppolo on IR, due to the faint hope the veteran passer can return late in the playoffs and its IR situation having become complicated. Samuel should not be expected to land on IR, either, given the prospect he could return within the next month. The 49ers (9-4) are now up two games on the Seahawks in the NFC West. They already routed the surprising contenders in Week 2, when Garoppolo replaced an injured Trey Lance. A win Thursday would effectively lock up the division for San Francisco.

The 49ers also received good news on Brock Purdy, who battled through an oblique injury in Week 14. They are calling the rookie quarterback “day to day.” The team did lose defensive lineman Kevin Givens to an MCL sprain; Shahanan said the fourth-year contributor will be out a few weeks. Givens has worked as a starter in place of Javon Kinlaw, who remains on IR. The team has used the former as an 11-game starter this season.

An ex-UDFA, Givens has remained in the lineup since Arik Armstead‘s recent return. The 49ers are already down D-lineman Hassan Ridgeway; this Givens issue will further thin out their D-line interior. The team, which also lost veteran backup cornerback and special-teamer Dontae Johnson to an ACL tear, has maintained its No. 1 defensive ranking despite a spate of injuries. T.Y. McGill remains in the picture at D-tackle, but given the issues affecting Ridgeway and Givens, it should be expected the 49ers will make a move here soon.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel Carted Off Field

December 11th, 2022 at 7:20pm CST by Ely Allen

In a dark spot during an otherwise phenomenal day for San Francisco, many thought the 49ers had lost one of their most-talented skill players to a serious injury, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. After his foot was pinned and twisted awkwardly underneath Buccaneers defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches, 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel was carted off the field as many of his teammates consoled him.

After being tackled, Samuel initially stayed down on the ground clutching at his leg. He attempted to walk off the field himself before needing to be helped to a cart. The 26-year-old appeared to be crying as he left the field and early reports from the team classified it as a knee injury, casting horror into the hearts of many a 49ers fan. Later on, though, it was reported that Samuel actually suffered an ankle injury and that he “is believed to have avoided a major injury,” according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

The update is welcome news for San Francisco who is already working with its third-string quarterback Brock Purdy after injuries to season-opening starter Trey Lance and backup Jimmy Garoppolo. Fortunately for the 49ers, Purdy has now led the team to two wins over teams that look to be headed to the playoffs, as of right now, and their good fortune continues if the reports that Samuel avoided major injury are confirmed. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that the team is not sure about the extent of the injury but that it is “most likely” a high-ankle sprain, and Samuel’s left ankle “is not broken,” according to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington.

If Shanahan’s comments are accurate, a high-ankle sprain typically necessitates a four- to six-week recovery. With four weeks remaining in the regular season, Samuel will have to count on Purdy and company to keep the team alive long enough for him to make a likely return in the postseason. Samuel has plenty of experience with in-season recoveries. He suffered a broken leg during his redshirt junior season at South Carolina and was ruled out for the rest of the season. It was later announced that Samuel was working his way towards a possible return later on in the season before being permanently sidelined by a sprained foot that he would suffer in rehab. He also began the 2020 NFL season on injured reserve before making a late-season debut. Samuel is clearly not one to throw in the towel.

Samuel is not nearly on pace to match his incredible production from last year. His failure to produce as much is mainly just a byproduct of teammate Brandon Aiyuk‘s breakout season. Samuel receiving fewer touches and targets has helped the 49ers offense to be more evenly spread between himself, Aiyuk, tight end George Kittle, and whoever is playing at running back, most recently Christian McCaffrey.

If Samuel indeed needs to miss extended time, the 49ers will be counting on Aiyuk, Kittle, and McCaffrey to continue propping their third-string quarterback up. The team will ask receivers Jauan Jennings and Ray-Ray McCloud to step up in Samuel’s absence and attempt to replace his production.

49ers’ Deebo Samuel Out For Week 8; Kyle Juszczyk Undergoes Surgery

October 30th, 2022 at 1:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the second game during which the 49ers will have their new No. 1 running back available, they will be shorthanded in their receiving corps. The team ruled out Deebo Samuel for their Week 8 game against the Rams, as a result of a hamstring injury.

This will be Samuel’s first missed contest of the year, one in which expectations were sky-high. His All-Pro performance in 2021 – during which he posted 1,405 receiving yards and eight rushing touchdowns – led to a dramatic spike in his perceived free agent value. Extension eligible for the first time this offseason, a lack of traction in contract talks led the 26-year-old to request a trade in April.

The situation ultimately resulted in a deal being struck at the end of July, though, with Samuel set to average nearly $24MM per season. So far in 2022, the final year of his rookie contract, the South Carolina product has once again been featured both in the air and on the ground. Samuel ranks second on the team in receiving (387) and rushing (138) yards.

Another key member of the 49ers’ offense will be absent today. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had surgery to repair a broken finger earlier this week, as noted (on Twitter) by Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. The 31-year-old had played in every contest so far this year, after having done the same in 2020 and 2021. Those campaigns extended his Pro Bowl streak to six years, meaning his absence will be felt as the team tries to further implement trade acquisition Christian McCaffrey into their offense.

Among the notable defensive players who will be sidelined is Dre Greenlaw. He, too will miss his first contest of the season – ending a welcomed run of availability after he was limited to just three games last season. He is dealing with a calf injury, something which will leave San Francisco’s linebacking corps shorthanded. Greenlaw had played every defensive snap in five games this season, cementing his status as a key member of the unit after agreeing to a two-year extension last month.

The 3-4 49ers will look to rebound from last week’s loss to the Chiefs and attempt to gain ground in the wide-open NFC West against the defending champions.

Kyle Shanahan: Deebo Samuel’s RB Role Did Not Factor Into Negotiations

August 1st, 2022 at 2:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after Deebo Samuel‘s trade request surfaced, matters like the wide receiver’s desire not to be used as a running back and his rumored desire not to live in California surfaced as ancillary reasons — beyond the contractual centerpiece in play — for wishing to be dealt. But Kyle Shanahan said the role component did not factor into the proceedings.

Samuel’s backfield usage did not come into play during the 49ers’ negotiations with their top wide receiver, Shanahan said Monday, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner (on Twitter). The sixth-year 49ers HC said the progress that led to a three-year, $71.55MM extension came from the key parties meeting face-to-face. Samuel also confirmed the narrative that he no longer wished to be used as a running back was false, via the San Jose Mercury News’ Cam Inman (video link).

The 49ers did include some incentives to cover potential Samuel backfield duty. The escalators could pay Samuel as much as $1.95MM over the contract’s life. If Samuel gains 380 rushing yards in any season on this deal, he would collect $650K, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). A more likely incentive to be collected is tied to rushing touchdowns. Samuel would collect $150K for each year in which he scores three rushing TDs. Samuel scored three rushing TDs as a rookie and notched eight last season.

As for more traditional contract numbers, the former second-round pick — as could be expected during a transformative offseason for the receiver position — did well for himself. The 49ers gave Samuel $41MM fully guaranteed, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, adding that, by April 1, 2023, $58.2MM of the deal will be locked in. Samuel’s salaries through 2024 will be guaranteed by April of next year; his 2025 base salary ($16.6MM) is nonguaranteed. A big chunk of Samuel’s $41MM guaranteed at signing comes from a $24MM signing bonus.

Samuel’s fully guaranteed figure comes in sixth at receiver, checking in ahead of D.K. Metcalf‘s total ($31MM). The Seahawks wideout, whose AAV tops Samuel’s, checks in with a nearly identical total-guarantee figure ($58.22MM). The 49ers used a void year in 2026 to spread out Samuel’s signing bonus and minimize his cap hits. The wideout will not carry an eight-figure cap hit until 2024, according to OverTheCap. Samuel will be tied to a $6.68MM cap number in 2022 and a $9.14MM figure in 2023. The notable jump during this contract occurs in 2024, when the All-Pro’s cap number spikes to $29MM.

The 49ers came up considerably from their initial offer, believed to be worth less than $19MM per year, but the receiver market also changed considerably since mid-April. A.J. Brown signed for four years and $100MM, with a receiver-record $56MM fully guaranteed, and both Metcalf and Terry McLaurin eclipsed $23MM per year. The 49ers now have Samuel and George Kittle signed through 2025.

49ers, WR Deebo Samuel Agree To Deal

July 31st, 2022 at 6:56pm CST by Ely Allen

After months of precarious conversations and rumors, the 49ers and star wide receiver Deebo Samuel have finally agreed to a new deal. Samuel has landed a three-year extension worth $71.55MM, with a potential maximum value of $73.5MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Samuel’s annual average value of approximately $23.85MM per year ranks eighth among wide receiver contracts in the league behind Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins, Cooper Kupp, A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs, and recent fellow hold-in participant D.K. Metcalf. As expected, Samuel joins the trend of wide receivers breaking the $20MM per year threshold.

Samuel’s feud with the team that drafted him stems back to the early days of the offseason. General manager John Lynch had readily admitted that the team had an extension budgeted for Samuel and defensive star Nick Bosa, but San Francisco’s initial offer was out of range enough for Samuel to request a trade. Several teams reached out in hopes of trading for the 26-year-old, with the Jets making a dramatic push around the draft, but, ultimately, no trade unfolded.

At one point, Samuel had removed all references to the team on social media, indicating that the relationship was all but deteriorated, but eventually refollowed the team on Instagram and liked a post in which Lynch claimed the issues between the two parties could be worked out. The team’s communication with the media after that seemed to insist that a deal would get done, but as training camp approached, questions on the imminence of a new contract still pressed.

Samuel’s “hold-in” can now come to an end. While he had reported to training camp earlier this week, Samuel refused to practice amid his then-ongoing contract dispute. He had reported to minicamp, as well, but didn’t participate in any on-field work then either. The “hold-in” was a new concept, a result of the CBA’s crackdown on holdouts that would fine Samuel $40,000 for each day he was absent from camp.

With contract discussions in the rearview, Samuel can return focus to continuing his meteoric NFL development. Samuel impressed as a rookie amassing 57 receptions for 802 yards and three touchdowns en route to his teams run to a Super Bowl loss against the Chiefs. Samuel also showed that his impressive athleticism could provide an extra tool as he rushed for three more touchdowns on 14 carries for 159 yards. Samuel’s sophomore season was derailed a bit by injury as a fracture in his left foot forced him to miss the first three games of the season. He would miss nine games total that year due to a mix of COVID-19 and a hamstring injury.

Finally healthy again, Samuel exploded for a breakout year last season. Samuel more than doubled his career total recording 1,405 receiving yards on 77 catches for six touchdowns. He continued his dual-threat nature by rushing 59 times for 365 yards and a team-leading eight rushing touchdowns. Some reports indicated that one of Samuel’s gripes was his overuse in the run game, but the team supposedly addressed it by adding some depth to the running backs room.

But, now, all the gripes and issues will hopefully be behind the two parties. Samuel got his payday and the 49ers aren’t forced to deal one of their most valuable offensive weapons. Between signing Bosa and Samuel to massive extensions, Lynch and the 49ers’ brass have had one heck of an offseason.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel, Seahawks WR DK Metcalf Staging Hold-Ins

July 27th, 2022 at 5:20pm CST by Ben Levine

A pair of high-profile wideouts are staging “hold-ins.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (on Twitter) that 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel and Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf will not be practicing at training camp due to contract disputes. Both players reported to training camp earlier this week.

The two receivers are heading into the final year of their respective contracts. Metcalf didn’t attend mandatory minicamp, but he incurred only a $90K fine. Samuel reported to minicamp but didn’t participate in on-field work, leaving the door open to a potential hold-in scenario. If the two players engaged in a traditional holdout, they’d face fines worth $40K for each day they were absent. The CBA’s recent holdout crackdown also includes a measure that would strip players of a year of service time toward free agency after barely a week’s worth of absences. Samuel and Metcalf will avoid these penalties by attending training camp but refusing to participate.

According to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury (on Twitter), Samuel conditioned on the sideline while the rest of his team participated in drills today. Meanwhile, the 49ers front office and Samuel’s agent considered to negotiate a deal.

“Hopefully we can figure something out soon, but we’re in a good place today,” Kyle Shanahan told reporters shortly after speaking with Samuel (via Inman).

Samuel is expected to join the ever-growing club of receivers signing deals averaging at least $20MM per season. Bridging the gap between Samuel’s original asking price and the team’s best offer to date has, naturally, been seen as a key milestone in helping repair relations between the two sides after the 26-year-old’s April trade request. Still, there’s a clear divide when it comes to the player’s value.

Metcalf doesn’t have to look very far to find inspiration for his hold-in, as teammate Jamal Adams staged his own last offseason. Adams returned to the field once he received a record-setting contract. Metcalf shouldn’t expect to reset the market at receiver, but the impending free agent should still be able to secure a lucrative multiyear deal. Metcalf’s decision to skip minicamp surprised some in the organization, but both Metcalf and Pete Carroll have expressed optimism about an extension being finalized. Though, this process is not expected to be wrapped up early in camp. Late last month, a report emerged indicating a Metcalf deal “hardly seemed like a slam dunk.”

49ers Commit To Trey Lance As Starting QB; Jimmy Garoppolo Won’t Land On PUP

July 26th, 2022 at 9:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The Trey Lance era in San Francisco has officially begun. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters today that the team is fully committed to last year’s third-overall pick as their starting QB, thus eliminating any QB controversy as veteran Jimmy Garoppolo lingers on the roster.

“We have moved on to Trey,” Shanahan said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). “This is Trey’s team. That’s nothing against Jimmy. We made that decision a year ago and we’re going with that. We’re not going to mess around with that anymore. Jimmy understands that fully. That’s a business decision and that’s what makes it not awkward. Jimmy knows we’re going with Trey. Trey knows we’re going with Trey and our team does, and everyone likes both of those guys.”

It has been known since last April that San Francisco would hand the No. 1 role to Lance no later than his second season in the NFL. A deal sending Garoppolo elsewhere has thus been seen as inevitable throughout a 2022 offseason filled with several major moves at the position. The QB’s health obviously played a role in the fact that a trade still hasn’t materialized, but with few suitors (if any) on the market, the organization recently gave Garoppolo permission to seek a trade. According to Wagoner, Garoppolo met with Shanahan and GM John Lynch to discuss their next steps today, the first conversation the trio had had since February. Shanhan also told reporters that he’d like to have Garoppolo off the roster as “soon as we can.”

“We spoke when he left and we had a pretty good understanding of what was going on, and because of the surgery and the ramifications of that in other teams’ eyes, nothing has transpired as of yet,” Lynch said. “But he’s here, he’s reported, we’ll see what happens in the physical and we’ll move forward accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Garoppolo won’t be placed on the physically unable to perform list. As Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets, the quarterback was cleared today after undergoing his physical. This was the intended plan as Garoppolo continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery; Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury tweets that Garoppolo will do his throwing rehab on the sideline while the rest of the team is practicing. Plus, as NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo points out (on Twitter), there was little chance the 49ers were going to fail Garoppolo’s physical as they continue to seek a trade for the veteran. Today’s move also means the 49ers wouldn’t be on the hook for the player’s $7.5MM injury guarantee if he is ultimately released.

Garoppolo isn’t the only major story in San Francisco. We learned earlier today that wideout Deebo Samuel reported to camp despite seeking a new contract. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the two sides are not close on money, but the two sides are on the same page when it comes to Samuel’s role in 2022. The player has expressed a desire to get less carries between the tackles and reduce the wear and tear on his body.

49ers Planning 2023 Nick Bosa Extension

July 26th, 2022 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two of the NFL’s highest-profile (non-quarterback tier) extension candidates reside in San Francisco. It appears the 49ers will take advantage of Nick Bosa‘s rookie contract, one that runs a year longer than Deebo Samuel‘s.

The prospect of the 49ers tabling a Bosa extension to 2023 surfaced earlier this summer, despite GM John Lynch indicating in February the team has a new deal for the dominant defensive end budgeted. Tuesday, Lynch said the team is now likely to extend Bosa in 2023, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com tweets.

Because of the fifth-year option included in first-rounders’ contracts, the 49ers have Bosa signed for two more seasons. Samuel’s second-round deal expires after this year. Although the salary cap’s rise and the prospect of other edge rusher deals being completed between now and the 2023 offseason invites the prospect of Bosa’s price tag rising, the 49ers sound willing to risk that. Bosa is attached to an $895K base salary this season; his 2023 price tag comes in at $17.9MM.

Jimmy Garoppolo‘s $26MM cap number currently complicates 49ers extension math. So does Samuel’s murky status. The 49ers’ $4.9MM in cap space sits 31st in the league. Samuel reported to 49ers camp Tuesday, and Lynch called talks with the wideout “substantive,” though he cautioned nothing is imminent here (video link). While Bosa signed for $33.6MM guaranteed in 2019, doing so as the No. 2 overall pick, Samuel’s rookie deal was worth $7.7MM. The 2020 CBA has largely curbed holdouts, though it has increased “hold-ins” as a negotiating measure. Samuel did not participate in the 49ers’ minicamp, which came less than two months after his trade request.

Bosa signing an extension in 2023 would put him on the same track as other pass-rushing standouts. T.J. Watt, Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa signed deals ahead of their fifth seasons. Von Miller played Year 5 on the franchise tag before signing a record extension ahead of his sixth season. Myles Garrett, however, inked his current deal ahead of his fourth year. Donald’s defender-record $31.7MM-per-year deal represents the current defender standard. Nick Bosa ending up with a deal between Watt’s $28MM-AAV pact and Donald’s would make sense. Then again, as the QB market regularly shows, less accomplished players frequently surpass monster contracts given to superstars. Bosa is one of the NFL’s best defensive players, and despite not quite being on Donald’s plane, the fourth-year 49er defensive end producing another strong year would likely lead to conversations about topping Donald’s price.

Watt staged a “hold-in” effort last year, passing on team drills during training camp before he signed an extension just before the season. It would be interesting if Nick Bosa followed that path this year, given his low base salary and importance to the 49ers’ defense. For now, it looks like the younger Bosa brother will play a fourth season on his rookie contract.

No Extension Imminent Between 49ers, Deebo Samuel

July 21st, 2022 at 9:06am CST by Adam La Rose

While there was an important update on one 49er who has been in the headlines all offseason yesterday, the situation regarding another of the team’s key priorities is murkier. With training camp approaching, much remains to be determined as it pertains to Deebo Samuel.

An NFL.com report details that there is “nothing imminent” with respect to an extension being finalized by San Francisco and the All-Pro receiver. That runs counter to the sense that a lucrative long-term deal could be hammered out in the build-up to camp, a possibility brought up last month. Nevertheless, the two camps “have had talks” about an extension, per the report.

Bridging the gap between Samuel’s original asking price and the team’s best offer to date has, naturally, been seen as a key milestone in helping repair relations between the two sides after the 26-year-old’s April trade request. However, it is still “unclear as to how close the parties are to a new contract.” Samuel boosted his market value in 2021 with 1,770 scrimmage yards as he became the undisputed focal point of the 49ers’ offense late in the regular season and into the playoffs.

As a result, he is widely expected to join the ever-growing club of receivers signing deals averaging at least $20MM per season – a sizeable jump in compensation from the $4MM the South Carolina product is set to earn in 2022, the final year of his rookie contract. The 49ers could scarcely afford much in the way of a raise for him this season in their current cap situation, though that will change dramatically once Jimmy Garoppolo is no longer on the books. San Francisco also has fellow 2019 draftee Nick Bosa eligible for an extension, though those negotiations have taken a backseat to Samuel talks.

With much unsettled regarding his contract status, it remains to be seen if Samuel will attend training camp next week. He skipped voluntary OTAs, but was present for mandatory minicamp. The fact that he didn’t participate in any on-field work, however, leaves a ‘hold-in’ along the same lines as a distinct possibility. While the Garoppolo situation seems set to remain in a holding pattern for the near future, then, the Samuel one will be worth watching in the coming days.

5 Key Stories: 6/26/22 – 7/3/22

July 3rd, 2022 at 5:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Even in the quietest part of the offseason, there were still some significant developments around the NFL. Here’s a quick rundown of the week’s top headlines:

Watson Hearing Concludes: The top offseason storyline in the league reached another critical stage, as the hearing presided over by Sue Robinson concluded after three days. Her decision on whether Browns QB Deshaun Watson will be suspended – and if so, for how long – will be the next step in this process, and could be delayed by a matter of weeks. Any appeals process (which would be administered by commissioner Roger Goodell or his appointee) would then follow, and have drastic consequences on Watson, the Browns and, given the precedent it could set, any players who find themselves in a similar situation in the future.
McLaurin Signs Extension With Commanders: The offseason was building towards Terry McLaurin signing a lucrative extension in Washington, and he did just that by inking a three-year deal. The pact carries an average annual value of $23.3MM, and includes a signing bonus of $28MM. With the new contract in hand, McLaurin will see significant guaranteed money, while still being eligible for another significant deal at the age of 30.
Mayfield Dispels Talk Of Browns Reconciliation: With a Watson suspension looming, many have pointed to Baker Mayfield as the Browns’ best QB option in 2022. He remains on the roster, as trade talks have sputtered throughout the offseason, but the fences between himself and the team still aren’t likely to be mended. “I think it’s pretty obvious the mutual decision on both sides is to move on,” he said, when asked about the possibility of rescinding his trade request to play out the final year of his contract in Cleveland. Finding a trade partner could still remain challenging for the team, though.
49ers Nearing Samuel Extension?: With McLaurin (and fellow 2019 draftee A.J. Brown) having signed big-money extensions, attention will turn even more so to the 49ers and Deebo Samuel. It was reported that, as trade talk cools around the highly-productive ‘wide-back,’ the team is “expected to continue working toward” a new deal with Samuel. In that event, he could find himself under contract by training camp later this month, presumably joining the $20MM-per-year WR club as many others have already done this offseason along the way.
Texans Facing First Watson Suit: The civil litigation filed against Watson has been well-documented, and, even after 20 of those suits were settled, will remain a significant storyline into, quite possibly, next offseason. Another development related his case, though, was the news that the first lawsuit related to his conduct while with the Texans was filed against the franchise itself. A statement from plaintiff’s attorney Tony Buzbee suggested that many others could follow, claiming that “the overwhelming evidence collected indicating that the Houston Texans enabled Watson’s behavior is incredibly damning.”

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