Fans won’t be surprised by the San Francisco 49ers’ latest perplexing trade choice.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, a key figure in the team’s offense since 2019, may have taken his final snap with the franchise.
According to sources, the 49ers are expected to explore trade options for Samuel during the offseason. While nothing is set in stone, both sides seem open to the possibility of parting ways if a trade makes sense.
Samuel has been a Pro Bowl-level talent and a central piece of the 49ers’ offensive success. When healthy and involved, he’s electrifying. When absent, the team feels his loss. However, this past season saw a decline in his role, and Samuel admitted in December that he was “a little frustrated” with how things were going.
His frustrations were evident when he posted (and later deleted) a message on X, formerly Twitter, clarifying that he wasn’t struggling—he just wasn’t getting enough opportunities. Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged Samuel’s frustrations but emphasized the importance of keeping those concerns private.
Samuel’s numbers reflected his reduced role. He recorded just 51 receptions for 670 yards and three touchdowns, his lowest production in a full season. His 81 targets were also a career low, not counting his injury-shortened 2020 season.
The 49ers may have been preparing for life without Samuel when they drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and extended Brandon Aiyuk last summer. Trade discussions about Samuel reportedly occurred last offseason, which he even addressed publicly.
“There was some back-and-forth, but we moved past it,” Samuel said in June. “We’re here to get better.”
Despite a disappointing 6-11 season marked by injuries, general manager John Lynch initially expressed confidence in keeping Samuel, stating in January that the plan was to bring him back.
“He’s a great player and has done a lot for this organization,” Lynch said. “We don’t let good players walk away.” San Francisco 49ers’ latest perplexing trade choice.
However, with Samuel set to earn $17.55 million in 2025—the final year of his three-year, $71.55 million extension—the 49ers are expected to gauge the trade market. Given Samuel’s versatility and game-changing ability, there should be plenty of interest from teams running systems similar to Shanahan’s offense.
