Deebo Samuel &San Francisco 49ers Breakdown

It’s Draft Week! One of the most exciting times on the NFL calendar, this week is sure to bring lots of twists and turns to a league that has grown stagnant since the initial rush of free agency. There definitely has not been any breaking news since…wait…what happened last Wednesday?!?!

That’s right, Deebo Samuel, All-Pro wide receiver/running-back/wideback for the 49ers, requested a trade last Wednesday, per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. In one of the most stunning events of the NFL offseason, a rising star on the offensive side of the football is trying to ditch the very same offense that made him an All-Pro. That hasn’t happened since…well okay, I guess with Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill also getting traded this offseason, the precedent isn’t exactly unheard of.

But what got us to this point? Is the relationship between Deebo and the San Francisco brass salvageable? And what teams should be looking to make a move for the star offensive weapon?

Why Does Deebo Want a Trade?

Deebo Samuel’s situation in San Francisco is fascinating because it is so different from the other “star player wants out” situations that we have seen in recent years. Typically, the number one issue is money: players feel that they are not paid enough, and somewhere along the negotiation process, relationships get tarnished beyond repair. We have seen it with a number of players over the years, from Stefon Diggs in 2020 to Tyreek Hill just last month.

But Deebo is different. No, the thing that is bothering Deebo the most about San Francisco might actually be the thing that made him a star: his usage. Despite coining the term “wide back” at the 2022 Pro Bowl to describe his play style, it would appear that is not the type of position Samuel sees himself in going forward. Rather than go on the Cordarrelle Patterson or Ty Montgomery career arc, he wants to be used as a perimeter weapon, not out of the backfield. Rather than allow Kyle Shanahan and Co. to drive him into the ground more, he wants his next contract (which will be massive) to come from a team that will use him more as a true receiver.

And as much as Samuel’s value has been boosted by his work out of the backfield, it makes sense. Look at NFL running back longevity versus their wide receiver peers. Receivers undoubtedly have longer overall careers (apologies to Frank Gore) as well as longer peaks, often able to produce Pro Bowl seasons into their thirties. We simply do not see the same kind of longevity with running backs. Adrian Peterson, who many would argue is the best running back of the past generation, had his last Pro Bowl season at age 30, almost seven years ago. Meanwhile, the history of 30+ year old receivers producing in the NFL is actually fairly extensive, with the likes of Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and Steve Smith Sr. all producing in the later stages of their careers. Why would Samuel assume the risk that comes with getting the usage of a running back and #1 receiving option? That will do nothing but increase injury risk, which shortens careers at worst and shortens peaks at best.

Teams That Should Trade for Deebo Samuel

1. All of Them

Oh, this is too much of a copout answer. Okay fine, I’ll give some real ones.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Sometimes the most obvious answer is the correct one. While Kansas City has done a somewhat adequate job of filling the holes left in their receiving corps, bringing in JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdez-Scantling, even the most diehard Chiefs fan will acknowledge they still need more help at that position. Adding a dynamic threat like Samuel would be a massive get for Andy Reid’s squad, and Reid is one of the few coaches who would likely be able to utilize Samuel’s skillset as creatively as Shanahan has. The difference, of course, is that Reid’s offense is far more pass friendly, the exact opposite of Shanahan’s run-first approach. And it doesn’t hurt that you have the best quarterback on the planet throwing you the ball instead of Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance.

3. Green Bay Packers

Very similar to the Chiefs in the sense that they have a star quarterback and a good player caller but lack the offensive weapons to make it happen. The difference between Aaron Rodgers’ crew and the Chiefs, however, is that the Packers are even more desperate for help at the receiver position, but the 49ers would be less willing to ship their star weapon to Wisconsin. The fact of the matter is that teams are very suspicious about trading players to teams that they feel they will be facing with regularity, and the 49ers have played the Packers in the playoffs twice in the last three years. Do they want to test fate and send their most dynamic offensive player (apologies to George Kittle) to a team they could likely face in January? I don’t think they would. From the Packers’ perspective, however, you make this deal every day of the week and nineteen times on Sunday.

4. New York Jets

Talk about a team that needs something. ANYTHING. This Jets team simply does not have a pulse on offense right now. Even after making some solid under-the-radar signings in free agency, I cannot envision them lighting up the league the way they probably think they can. Zach Wilson needs major help if he is going to take a leap in his second year, and some New York faithful are likely afraid that he could just end up being another Sam Darnold: a talented player wasting away in East Rutherford. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Deebo Samuel could step in and be the best Jets receiver since…peak Brandon Marshall? Keyshawn Johnson? The Jets have not exactly had a glamorous history when it comes to wide receivers. Getting Deebo Samuel in the fold would instantly bring a boost to their offense that is sorely needed. Plus, they have the capital to make it happen, with two top ten picks, and the 49ers can avoid the problem the Packers present of sending Deebo to a team they will have to play regularly. Win-win-win. But would Deebo agree to go to New York? Tyreek Hill didn’t, so you never know.

What is Next for the 49ers?

Perhaps the most interesting question, and the one that is being asked the least, is what the 49ers are going to do if and when they honor Samuel’s trade request. First and foremost, their receiving corps looks ugly. Brandon Aiyuk is a good young player, but behind him are players like Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud, and Malik Turner. Not exactly a group of world beaters to build the Shanahan offense around. Of course, you still have the best tight end in the league in George Kittle, and the fact that the 49ers base their offense more on a strong run game will certainly take some pressure off. But you simply cannot lose a talent like Deebo Samuel without having a contingency plan, especially with a young quarterback in Trey Lance stepping into a starting role in 2022.

Let’s say the 49ers get the best package they possibly can for Samuel: one of the Jets’ first round picks (I’m sorry San Francisco, but you are not getting multiple top ten picks in one draft for a wide receiver). Assuming that pick is tenth overall, the 49ers will certainly have options on the board to “replace” Samuel, with the likes of Ohio State receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave immediately popping off the board. If you want somebody that could potentially replace the big play ability Samuel brings to every play, you might want to take a shot on Alabama’s Jameson Williams, but it is worth noting that he is coming off a major knee injury that should at least sideline him for the offseason program.

At the end of the day, the best course of action for the 49ers would be to mend their relationship with Deebo, but if recent Instagram videos are giving any indication, it seems like the partnership between the team and their star is simply too far gone. The 49ers would be wise to not drag out this process for too long, as there is only a few days until the draft and they need to maximize the value they can get for Samuel immediately. If this truly is the last we have seen of Deebo Samuel in a 49ers uniform, his time in the Bay will be remembered by fans fondly, as he truly was one of the most dynamic players in the league for the Red and Gold. However, Samuel is ultimately acting in the best interest of his future by wanting out of San Francisco; here’s hoping his next destination will be able to utilize him in a way that keeps him content.

Reach reporter Beau Gleason at gleasonbeau@gmail.com. Twitter: @BGleasonUW