There is a good chance the San Francisco 49ers trade one Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel before the start of the season. Shortly after the Super Bowl, Aiyuk and his inner circle alluded to a potential move, and the receiver himself did nothing to put out those fires. While an extension could satisfy the former first-round pick, it could spell the end for Deebo Samuel. A second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Samuel already received a massive paycheck but San Francisco might have to make a tough business decision. If they keep Aiyuk, it’s hard to imagine Samuel sticking around.
For what it’s worth, the 49ers seem to be coming to terms with this reality. The team selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, took another wide receiver later in the draft, and extended veteran pass-catcher Jauan Jennings. With only so many roster spots to go around, San Francisco could part ways with one of their top playmakers, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes Deebo Samuel is the most likely trade target.
49ers Likely To Take Calls For Deebo Samuel Trade
Breer’s logic for a Deebo Samuel trade lies in his somewhat redundant skillset with Christian McCaffrey. While Aiyuk is more of a traditional WR1, Samuel is most dangerous when utilized all over the field and out of the backfield. The same is true of McCaffrey, as the All-Pro running back works well between the tackles and runs routes like a receiver. Additionally, the 49ers need to pay Brock Purdy sooner or later, and trading Samuel would free up $22 million in cap space.
Even if the 49ers trade Deebo Samuel, San Francisco will still have arguably the deepest collection of pass-catching talent in the league. Brandon Aiyuk is one of the best young players in the game, George Kittle is one of the game’s best all-around tight ends, and you can’t say enough good things about Christian McCaffrey. This doesn’t even take into account the upside of first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, so the 49ers are loaded with pass-catching talent in a league where there aren’t enough reliable receivers to meet demand.
The Two Best Fits
Breer never mentions which teams could be interested in a Deebo Samuel trade, but the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers make the most sense. Los Angeles has the worst collection of pass-catching talent in the league by a sizable margin. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey could turn into a reliable player, but he’s anything but a sure bet. Samuel would easily be the best receiver on this roster, but he could also be the best running back. This is yet another selling point for a creative offensive mind like Jim Harbaugh who wants to run the ball as much as physically possible.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have a great young receiver in George Pickens and not much else. Russell Wilson will be an upgrade on Kenny Pickett, but the present-day version of the quarterback needs more help to guide this team on a deep playoff run. Say what you will about offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, but his success with Cordarrelle Patterson shows he knows how to get the best out of hybrid players. If the Steelers trade for Deebo Samuel, don’t be surprised if you see similar usage this season.
Main Photo: Cary Edmundson – USA Today Sports
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