The first domino has fallen in the 49ers rebuild.
The San Francisco 49ers have granted wide receiver Deebo Samuel and his representation permission to seek a trade, according to ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter. Samuel reportedly requested a trade during his exit meetings with the team after the season. This is the second time in the last three years that Samuel has made the request.
However, the difference between Samuel’s 2022 trade request, is that the 49ers are more receptive to the idea of parting ways with him and moving in a different direction this time around. Samuel’s previous request came when he was going through contract negotiations with the organization. When those discussions were painstakingly slow to come together, Samuel became frustrated and asked to be dealt.
“It was a hard conversation to have with [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] because of the relationship that we have,” Samuel said on Sunday. “But I have to do what’s best. I’m more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, but now I think it’s best that we find another team.”
NFL network insider Ian Rapoport initially reported that the 49ers were expected to explore trade options for the star receiver.
The 49ers selected Samuel with a second-round pick in the 2019 draft, and his ability to do multiple things on the field quickly allowed him to become a sparkplug for their offense.
Samuel’s ability to play running back became prominent in 2021, when he hauled in 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns to go with 59 rushes for 365 yards and eight more scores on his way to first-team All-Pro honors. That season, Samuel became just the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 receiving yards with at least five touchdowns rushing and five more receiving.
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Samuel is entering the final year of the three-year extension he inked in 2022. He is set to count $15.87 million against the salary cap in 2025.
“The 49ers restructured Samuel’s contract in September, a move that means if the Niners were to trade or release him before June 1, 2025, they would have to absorb a $31.55 million dead money hit on the cap,” ESPN writes. “If they move on from him with a post-June 1 designation before his March 23 option bonus is due, they could decrease that number to cap hits of $10,751,753 over the next couple of years.”
When asked after the season if Samuel would remain with the team, general manager John Lynch expressed optimism about keeping him in the fold.
“A good player and has done a ton for this organization,” Lynch said. “We’re not in the business of letting good players out of here.”
