5 burning questions 49ers face entering 2022 season
By Peter Panacy
49ers burning question No. 2: What happens with Deebo Samuel?
Let’s face it, the bulk of drama surrounding San Francisco on day one of the 2022 NFL Draft involved whether or not the team would trade All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, whose previous trade request sent shockwaves through the fanbase.
The once-sour relationship might have relaxed a bit in recent weeks, and the 49ers elected not to honor his request.
Still, that doesn’t mean the situation is wholly resolved.
Read More: 3 reasons why 49ers could still trade Deebo Samuel
Samuel is rightfully seeking what should be a lucrative contract extension, putting him in the ranks of the most well-paid receivers in the league right now. And the Niners know his value, too, only the drawn-out elements of contract talks preventing a new deal from being announced imminently.
Now, San Francisco knows it still owns Samuel’s rights for 2022, and it technically doesn’t have to do anything anytime soon.
Yet that’ll come with the risk of potentially alienating Samuel to the point where his frustrations boil over into the regular season, perhaps to the point where he’ll be a distraction for a team that needs anything but.
No, this storyline isn’t going away anytime soon.