There’s an apparent rift between Deebo Samuel and the 49ers right now. And if both parties elect to move on, these five trade partners could play a role.
Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here (OK, we’re getting too far ahead of ourselves), but there’s some sort of obvious disconnect between the San Francisco 49ers and their first-team All-Pro wide receiver, Deebo Samuel.
It’s impossible to know what’s going on behind closed doors, and the situation could literally change at any moment. But the fact Samuel unfollowed the Niners on social media, then scrubbed all 49ers references from his Instagram account isn’t exactly a good omen.
Perhaps they’ll be back soon. They aren’t now, though.
The most logical explanation is Samuel is upset with contract-extension talks, as he’s entering his first year of eligibility there. In the wake of prolific receivers like Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs all receiving blockbuster-type new contracts, Samuel surely is seeing his own price tag go through the rook.
Perhaps San Francisco doesn’t quite see Samuel’s value the same way, though.
We’ve seen things like this play out before. While the 49ers would presumably have zero interest whatsoever in trading one of their best players, it’s possible they reach an impasse with Samuel, and his camp demands an immediate trade. It wouldn’t be unlike the situations with Adams and Hill with their respective former teams, the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs, resulting in trade-and-extension deals with Adams going to the Las Vegas Raiders and Hill landing with the Miami Dolphins.
If Samuel does in fact demand a trade and the Niners ultimately consent, they could trade him to one of these five teams for what promises to be a sizable return.
Deebo Samuel trade partner No. 5: Baltimore Ravens
It’s seemingly been a year-over-year effort to provide Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson with additional pass-catching weapons. And while the Ravens are already wondering about what’ll be their own contract extensions with Jackson, the thought of pairing him with one of the NFL’s top up-and-coming receivers in the game makes sense.
Looking ahead to 2023, the presumed year when both Jackson and Deebo Samuel’s extensions would go into effect, Baltimore is projected to have over $70 million available in cap space, according to Over the Cap.
That might make for a tight squeeze with both Samuel and Jackson commanding big deals. But, there’s little doubting what Samuel could do for the Ravens offense.
Especially considering offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s run-first system, which would take full advantage of Samuel’s “wide back” role.
Plus, armed with nine picks in the first four rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, including four in the top 100, San Francisco would expect a decent return.
Deebo Samuel trade partner No. 4: Green Bay Packers
After moving Davante Adams to the Raiders, the Packers are now without a clear-cut No. 1 weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose own massive contract extension all but ensured Green Bay wouldn’t spend big-time money on Adams, Rodgers’ favorite target.
Now, a prime reason why the 49ers would have no interest trading Deebo Samuel to the Packers is because Green Bay might be one of the top obstacles head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. have in the way of securing a conference championship. Even if the Packers aren’t quite as potent as they were a year ago, the Niners surely don’t want to make them better in the context of facing off against each other once more in the playoffs, this time with Samuel on the opposite side of the field.
However, with Green Bay’s Super Bowl window still modestly open and Samuel being affordable in 2022 before his would-be newly negotiated extension would hit, the Packers could go all-in on a trade.
With ammunition gained from the Raiders in the Adams deal, including a first- and a second-round pick, San Francisco could feasibly choose from five selections Green Bay has between Rounds 1 and 3. Perhaps more.
Unlikely, but still possible.
Deebo Samuel trade partner No. 3: Detroit Lions
The 49ers would prefer to trade Deebo Samuel completely out of the NFC. If there was an inter-conference trade, perhaps the only way the Niners would consider it is if Samuel was dealt to a non-contending, rebuilding team.
Such as the lovely Detroit Lions, whose own wide receiver situation is awfully abysmal entering 2022.
Sure, the Lions may be trending in the right direction. And it might only be a couple of years before they’re back in contention under second-year head coach Dan Campbell. But finding a cornerstone piece to build around, especially if they’re looking at using the No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick on a young prospect quarterback, would be a wise choice.
Detroit also has the Los Angeles Rams’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, No. 32 overall, which could easily be used as part of a trade package for Samuel. With a projected $49-plus million in cap space in 2023, a number that could be increased if incumbent quarterback Jared Goff is jettisoned after this season, the Lions would have more than enough to offer Samuel the kind of money he’s likely seeking.
And while Samuel would be going from a Super Bowl contender to a rebuilding team, he’d at least get his hefty payout.
Deebo Samuel trade partner No. 2: New York Jets
Former San Francisco Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson already left for the New York Jets in NFL free agency, reuniting with his previous team’s former defensive coordinator, now-head coach Robert Saleh.
Saleh, whose offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur worked with Deebo Samuel with the 49ers prior to 2021, would have little trouble trying to convince the Niners to choose his team as a trade partner, should such a deal go down. After all, with the Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots all fueling a wide receiver arms race this offseason, Saleh and Gang Green need to respond.
Plus, it sure wouldn’t hurt to add more weaponry to quarterback Zach Wilson’s arsenal. He sure needs it.
Read More: Deebo Samuel will be impacted by Tyreek Hill trade to Dolphins
Wilson being on his own rookie contract means the Jets can afford those big-bucks contracts dished out for players like Tomlinson, and they can certainly take on a new Samuel deal worth well over $24 million per year over the next four years. On top of that, New York boasts two top-10 draft picks this year (Nos. 4 and 10) along with two picks early in Round 2.
If San Francisco is truly at a stalemate with Samuel, don’t be surprised if the Jets come calling with a nice offer.
Deebo Samuel trade partner No. 1: New England Patriots
It sure doesn’t seem like head coach Bill Belichick to go all-in on a massive blockbuster trade for Deebo Samuel. And it would seem even less a possibility in the wake of the Patriots acquiring wide receiver DeVante Parker from the Dolphins.
Let’s be honest, though. The Pats probably aren’t getting past Stefon Diggs and the Bills within the AFC East, and New England certainly isn’t going to be favored to win the conference amid the crowd of top-end quarterbacks within it.
Still, the same context applies as many of the other teams on this list. The Pats have a cheap quarterback on a rookie contract, Mac Jones, who would surely benefit from prolific pass-catchers like Parker and Samuel in a tandem. With an estimated $79 million in available cap space in 2023, a trade-and-extension deal with the 49ers could be engineered relatively quickly.
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Especially if Belichick is willing to dish out the No. 21 overall pick straight up.
Again, all this comes down to whether or not Samuel and the Niners reach a point of no return. And while the whole situation could easily calm down in the coming days and weeks, particularly if San Francisco winds up reaching an extension agreement, it’ll be for null.
But, as we’ve seen with other top-flight wide receivers, it doesn’t always go that way.