The New York Jets reportedly were going to give the San Francisco 49ers an offer for Deebo Samuel they couldn’t refuse.
Apparently, they could.
Samuel made clear he wanted to be traded by the 49ers, who have expressed reluctance to make such a move. Because it will take a haul to pry Samuel for the 49ers, any shot of him getting moved this offseason seemed like it hinged on a trade happening prior to the draft so that a first-round pick could be involved in the package.
The Niners did get actual offers though, and from not just the Jets. NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared Friday on the “Pat McAfee Show” that the Jets and Lions had offers out for Samuel.
“The Jets offered pick 10 and a pick-swap, so basically it would have been the equivalent between pick 13 and 14 -- so pick 10 and a little less for Deebo Samuel, and the 49ers wouldn’t do it. Lions had an offer on the table, and obviously the Lions ended moving for Jameson Williams, so they got their guy eventually.
“The 49ers just wouldn’t engage, and I think everyone was sort of waiting like, alright obviously they’re going to do this deal, but they just didn’t. And so now, he’s not happy, when is he going to show up? I don’t know. I think they’re going to try to make this better, but will they? There’s a lot more questions than answers on the Deebo situation now that he didn’t get traded last night.
“They refused all of them. It didn’t even sound like they engaged at all. We’ve heard teams talk at press conferences, Mike Vrabel said he can’t envision a situation without AJ Brown, then traded him. The 49ers were telling the truth, they basically were like we don’t want to do it and he’s too good of a player, and then they didn’t do it.”
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Both teams ended up using the first-round pick that would have gone to the 49ers for Samuel on a wideout.
The Jets grabbed Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson with the 10th pick, then Lions got Williams out of Alabama at No. 12 after trading with the Minnesota Vikings.
At this point, it would be surprising if Samuel was traded. If the 49ers turned away picks in the top half of the first round, then certainly Day 2 and 3 picks won’t get it done. Plus, they’d be right to be skeptical of moving a future first-round pick.
So, barring a stunner, the waiting game might continue for Samuel – and him landing with a new team might need to happen next offseason in free agency.
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