49ers news: 4 players who could switch jersey numbers

The NFL passed a rule relaxing restrictions on player numbers, and these 49ers players could end up changing their numbers in 2021.

For years, the NFL has been overly strict on designating certain numbers to various positions. Case in point, wide receivers could typically have numbers only from Nos. 10 through 19 or between Nos. 80 to 89. Quarterbacks had to be between Nos. 1 and 19, while offensive linemen had to be within the 50s through 70s with centers being solely in the 50s.

Well, that’s going away now. At least to an extent.

A recent rule-change proposal, asking the lessen these restrictions, was in the works. And you’re likely to see a decent amount of players changing up their jersey numbers between now and Week 1 of the regular season.

USA Today Sports’ Nate Davis broke down the proposed changes, initially proposed by the Kansas City Chiefs:

"Defensive backs would be able to wear 1 through 49 (currently eligible for 20 through 49). Running backs, tight ends and wide receivers would be able to wear 1 through 49 and 80 through 89 (RBs are currently eligible for 20 through 49; TEs are currently eligible for 40 through 49 and 80 through 89; WRs are currently eligible for 10 through 19 and 80 through 89). Offensive linemen would be able to wear 50 through 79 (currently, only centers can use 50 through 59). Linebackers would be able to wear 1 through 59 and 90 through 99 (currently eligible for 40 through 59 and 90 through 99)."

Well, it passed.

The San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to be immune to this. It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see a number of players, who’d otherwise don jerseys under the old format, switch up their uniform numbers to something else.

Perhaps these four wind up wearing something new in 2021, also pushing up the jersey sales a lot in the very near future.

No. 4: 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel

Third-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel is a candidate to potentially shake up his jersey number this offseason, if for the simple reason he could switch from the No. 19 he dons now to one of the two numbers he wore back in college at South Carolina, Nos. 1 and 9.

The latter of the two seems the most likely, although Samuel honed his NFL Draft pedigree while wearing No. 1.

Yet Samuel will be deterred from grabbing No. 1 this offseason because of a prediction we’ll make here in a little bit.

If there’s an issue, though, Samuel would have to change his Twitter and Instagram handles from @19problemz to something like @9problems.

Not sure if he’d want to do that. But maybe he wouldn’t care anyway.