3 reasons why 49ers have to trade Deebo Samuel now

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49ers fans got the news they didn’t want to hear with Deebo Samuel requesting a trade, here’s why the Niners must strike a trade right now.

With crisis can come opportunity, at least that’s the message all San Francisco 49ers fans are currently telling themselves with the reports All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel wants out.

Samuel is an integral part of the offense with 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns receiving and 59 carries for 365 yards and a further eight touchdowns.

He was pretty much unique in the NFL, and therein lies the problem.

The 2019 second-round NFL Draft pick doesn’t want to be a hybrid player and instead just a regular wide receiver, which didn’t fit in with what the team had in mind for him. He now seeks a fresh start.

It’s important to keep in mind this in no way necessitates the 49ers to actually find a trade partner. Samuel is under contract for one more year, and while the relationship is not great, it’s by no means a bridge burnt. Things change in the NFL, and with time, Samuel may decide he wants to stay in San Francisco.

But there’s a case to be made for the 49ers striking while the iron is hot and finding a trade partner sooner rather than later, for quite a few reasons.

Reason No. 1: 49ers have a perfect trade partner for Deebo Samuel in the wings

The Niners are pretty firm about their stance on Samuel in that he will not be traded no matter what given how essential he is.

But nothing is concrete in the NFL, why keep a player who doesn’t want to be there?

The 49ers do have some trade leverage, given they don’t need to deal Samuel right away, and the All-Pro is bound to gain interest across the league.

It just so happens there’s a team that makes all the sense in the world.

The New York Jets simply must be the top candidate if a trade occurs. They’ve been trying to land a top receiver to help quarterback Zach Wilson and came very close to landing now-Miami Dolphin Tyreek Hill. There have been claims also they offered the No. 10 pick to the Seattle Seahawks for D.K. Metcalf, though that has been met with skepticism.

Metcalf is good, but Samuel is an All-Pro and could net multiple first-round picks. Samuel probably wouldn’t net two top-10 picks himself (the Jets currently sit at No. 4 and No. 10) but the No. 4 pick or No. 10 and a second-round selection aren’t out of the realms of possibility.

The Jets also mean Samuel is sent out of the NFC, and the team of course has links to its head coach, Robert Saleh, still a very popular man among San Francisco fans.

It just makes sense.