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The San Francisco 49ers and all-in-one playmaker Deebo Samuel may be heading for a breakup as commercial noise grows ahead of the 2022 NFL season.
Speculation about the future of the Pro Bowl 2021 selection came into the spotlight in early April, when the broadcaster removed all references to Niners from its social media pages. Speculation came to fruition on Wednesday when ESPN’s Jeff Darlington spoke to Samuel, who confirmed he had asked San Francisco to trade.
The 26-year-old Samuel enters the final season of his four-year rookie contract worth $ 7.2 million. Prior to the wide receiver’s request to change the decor, there was no indication that the parties were close to an extension agreement.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced on Tuesday NFL live (via Wilton Jackson from
Sports IllustratedThe 49ers were willing to pay fair market value, but their top offensive weapons were reluctant to commit.
“I think at the moment it’s that Deebo Samuel doesn’t want to make a deal,” Scheffer said. “… the 49ers are ready. Deebo Samuel is the one who stopped everything for the moment.”
San Francisco doesn’t have to make a deal. He could stand the final year of his contract and use the franchise label to keep him for 2023. The question is whether Samuel can be willing to endure to impose his hand on the team after the commercial search.
Since the 2022 draft is set to begin on April 28, Niners may need to decide immediately what to do with a player who has calculated a total of 15 touchdowns in 2021 (eight quick, six receivers and one pass).
If they decided to satisfy the request and look for commercial offers, the Miami Dolphins helped lay the groundwork for their blockbuster deal for the broad successor to Kansas City Chiefs Tyreek Hill in March. Miami has given up on five draft choices: first, second and fourth rounds in 2022, along with fourth and sixth rounds in 2023.
Hill has a longer track record of success than Samuel, so the Niners’ catch probably won’t match what the Dolphins paid, but it could come close.
Here are some hypothetical trade packages if the deal is concluded before this year’s project:
- The New York Jets send: № 10, № 69 and 2023 third round
- Baltimore Ravens sends: No. 14, no. 76 and 2023 third round
- Los Angeles Chargers sends: No. 17, no. 79 and 2023 third round
These offers would allow the 49ers to send Samuel to the AFC. If they want to consider offers from NFC competitors, there will be other possible suitors:
- Atlanta Falcons sent: № 8, № 82 and 2023 third round
- Chicago Bears send: No. 39, no. 71 and 2023 first round
- Washington Commanders sends: No. 11, no. 113 and 2023 second round
Ideally for San Francisco, he would find a way to break the deadlock with Samuel and sign a long-term contract extension with him to retain a key member of his offensive scheme.
If this is not possible, gaining three assets, including a first-round pick, represents a solid return for the player they have selected in the second round of the 2019 draft.
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