3 mistakes 49ers can’t afford to make during 2022 offseason

49ers can’t fail to pay Deebo Samuel

We speak for most NFL viewers when we say wide receiver Deebo Samuel was the league’s biggest surprise this season.

Let’s take a look at his 2021 stats for a second here.

Samuel was able to put together an impressive stat line of 1,405 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns, 365 rushing yards (6.2 YPC) and eight rushing touchdowns in 16 games. It’s safe to say that is insane from a production standpoint.

Oh yeah, he also threw a touchdown pass against the Rams in Week 18.

The not-so-bright spot here is Samuel is entering the final year of his cheap, affordable rookie deal. That means if the team was to deny paying him a year early, it would be allowing the entire league to have a free shot at offering Samuel a massive contract to try and lure him away from San Francisco in 2023.

Related Story: 49ers reportedly interested in long-term extension with Deebo Samuel

And that’s only if Samuel doesn’t enter 2022 with the conclusion of holding out until he secures a lucrative extension, too.

It would be a massive mistake if the front office was to allow the team’s 2021 MVP to even sniff free agency and allow other teams to make blockbuster offers the 49ers would have trouble matching. One would like to believe Samuel would rather stick around with the Niners rather than walk away, but money talks and San Francisco needs to understand the fact Samuel is an elite wide receiver and should be treated and paid as such.

Hopefully, the 49ers know what they have in Samuel and pay him as soon as possible.

Signing him to a big contract would be the best way to kick off the 2022 NFL offseason.