Deebo Samuel might have requested a trade from the 49ers, but it sounds like the franchise has no intentions of dealing the unhappy wide receiver/running back.
The Athletic’s New York Jets beat writer Connor Hughes cited a source Wednesday afternoon that told him, “He ain’t getting out,” in regards to Samuel’s wishes to leave the 49ers franchise. Hughes also added that San Francisco has “zero intention” of trading him.
So, where does this leave the 49ers? It could be an awkward summer leading into what’s expected to be Trey Lance’s first season leading the offense.
There are a few key dates to keep in mind as this process unfolds. The NFL Draft begins on April 28 and it seems the most logical trade hypothetical haul for the 49ers would include a host of valuable draft picks. San Francisco sacrificed three first-rounders and a third-round pick to move up to No. 3 overall to select Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft, so they don’t have a selection until No. 61 this year.
This week is probably the best window to trade him this offseason, but the 49ers still hold the leverage over Samuel in this situation since they have him under contract for $4.9 million in 2022. If he wants to sit out, it’s only gonna come out of his paycheck, even if it’s five times smaller than he desires.
Voluntary offseason team activities will begin on May 23 and run through June 9. Things will start getting real if Samuel holds out during mandatory minicamp June 13-15. Mandatory training camps begin in late July.
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After going public with his displeasure, it appears Samuel and the 49ers will have to make amends before they get back together. According to reports, Samuel is displeased with his dual-threat role in coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, more than financial concerns about his extension eligibility this offseason. It’s also worth keeping in mind that Jimmy Garoppolo’s $26.9 million salary for next season isn’t a real impact on the 49ers’ chances to sign Samuel, as his extension money wouldn’t start until 2023 when Jimmy G is off the books.
The 49ers offense clearly wouldn’t look the same without Samuel, as he racked up 16 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage including the playoffs in 2021. He is clearly a unique offensive talent, as his league-leading 18.2 yards-per-catch and 6.2 yards-per-rush would attest.
General manager John Lynch and Shanahan find themselves in quite a pickle this offseason with Samuel, who scrubbed 49ers references from his Instagram and said he’s received death threats over the whole situation. As recently as January, Deebo was being praised by the fan base as a franchise-altering player. He’s quickly become a pariah for many 49ers Faithful.
Clearly, the 49ers aren’t going to deal Deebo for a bargain price simply because he wants out. Maybe they end up extending him and Nick Bosa this offseason sometime, but you have to wonder why they haven’t done it already.
The way this is shaping up, Samuel could be a high-profile holdout this summer when the 49ers report to minicamp and training camp.
