49ers 2022 NFL Draft: Latest news, rumors and reports ahead of Day 1

There’s no shortage of 49ers news and speculation as we count down the final hours to the beginning of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

If you thought the San Francisco 49ers could enjoy a relatively quiet offseason leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, think again.

The NFL rumors circulating this time of year are always provocative, yes, but the Niners seemingly have a way of working themselves into the news cycle regardless.

Unlike last year when there was all kinds of speculation about which quarterback they’d take after trading up to No. 3 overall, this year’s rumor mill has been much more about All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel and his bombshell of a trade request.

Of course, there is plenty of other news and tidbits with the 2022 NFL Draft kicking off on Thursday, April 28 at 8 p.m. ET from Las Vegas, Nevada.

So, with the draft now just hours away, let’s break down the latest goings-on with all things San Francisco at this crucial stage of the NFL calendar.

49ers NFL Draft rumor: Deebo Samuel not likely to be traded

Samuel has been the talk of the league the last few weeks, and those conversations will reach a high point between now and the conclusion of Round 1 on Thursday night, trade speculation lessening with each subsequent pick as we get to No. 32 overall.

If the 49ers are open to trading Samuel, they’ll likely ask for a hefty return. But the apparent lack of activity, at least according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is a strong sign Samuel isn’t going anywhere:

“Time is running out to do a deal,” Rapoport said. “I don’t get the sense that there’s any movement towards a trade.”

As far as keeping one of the league’s most dynamic players on the Niners roster, this would naturally be good news.

However, there’s still the chance another team would be willing to pry Samuel away with a deal San Francisco couldn’t refuse.