Deebo Samuel (Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images)
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch essentially confirmed that the Deebo Samuel era is over on the West Coast.
Before Super Bowl 59, it was reported that the 49ers gave Deebo Samuel and his agent permission to speak with other teams about a possible trade. The 29-year-old is heading into the last season of a three-year extension he signed in 2022.
Per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Lynch told reporters at the NFL Combine that the 49ers plan to give the 2021 All-Pro wideout “a fresh start” in 2025:
“You know, still not interested (referencing his previous comment about not letting quality players go). But along those lines of the financial constraints, and some conversations we’ve had with Deebo — it’s something that we’ve been forthright with that. We’re on good terms with Deebo. He’s asked for a fresh start and I think we’re going to honor that.
Don’t like seeing great players — and he is a great player, I think often one of my favorite draft picks in my time. He makes plays. He makes game-changing plays. Everything’s good. But at some point, time happens and he asked for that, we don’t always — there’s contracts and things. But it probably makes sense, so we’re at least allowing him to look. And we’re having conversations, we’ll see how it goes.”
Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the 49ers in the 2022 offseason following a career year, but he walked back on it and signed a three-year extension worth $71.55 million. Since then, the 49ers have played in two NFC Championship Games and were one play away from beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58.
Samuel is coming off a disappointing season for his standards in which he caught just 51 passes for 670 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 136 rushing yards and one rushing score.
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Deebo Samuel Should Be Highly Sought-After
Deebo Samuel (Photo via Sergio Estrada/Imagn Images)
Samuel is just one of many impact players on a 49ers offense featuring Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Rick Pearsall. If he joins a new team, Samuel will get a better opportunity to re-emerge as a No. 1 wide receiver.
The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers are among the contenders who could use a player like Samuel to bolster their offense.
San Francisco 49ers Send Superstar WR Deebo Samuel To AFC Rival In Shocking Blockbuster Trade Proposal
Deebo Samuel (Photo by: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images)
San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel is on the trade block, and there should be no shortage of interest in the 29-year-old.
During Super Bowl 59 weekend, Deebo Samuel confirmed that the 49ers gave him and his agent permission to seek a trade. The 2021 All-Pro has one season remaining on a three-year deal he signed in the 2022 offseason.
Samuel is coming off a disappointing season in which he recorded just 51 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns. San Francisco’s offense can get by without Samuel thanks to the presences of Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, 2024 breakout star Jauan Jennings and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall.
A healthy Samuel is always a threat for 1,000 yards of offense (he had a career-high 1,770 in 2021), but the cap-strapped 49ers have an easy call to move on and proceed with their current set of playmakers.
The Buffalo Bills need a No. 1 receiver after trading Stefon Diggs last year, and with Amari Cooper likely to hit free agency. The defending AFC champions are the ideal landing spot for Samuel, who would immediately slot in as Josh Allen’s top pass-catcher.
Allen won MVP honors in 2024 and got the Bills within a few plays of the Super Bowl despite lacking a true No. 1 threat. Khalil Shakir was his lead receiver with 76 catches for 821 yards and four touchdowns.
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What Bills Should Offer 49ers For Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel (Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images)
The Bills should offer the 49ers one of their two 2025 fifth-round picks (No. 171 or No. 175 overall) and their 2026 third-round selection for Samuel. It’s a fair price for an explosive pass-catcher, albeit an injury-prone player who’s entering his contract year.
For San Francisco, trading Samuel is mostly about clearing cap space here. Getting two draft picks for a player who needs a fresh start would be a small victory for GM John Lynch.
