Ranking 49ers 10 most important players entering 2022

No. 3: 49ers Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel

Looking back at the 49ers’ 2021 season, one player stands out more than all the rest: Deebo Samuel.

With 1,405 receiving yards and six touchdowns, Samuel had an impressive enough season before adding in his 365 yards and eight touchdowns rushing.

Samuel truly did it all in 2021, and whenever the Niners needed a play, he was there. It was an all-time great season, and Samuel proved he is one of the NFL’s greatest offensive weapons. Combined with perhaps the NFL’s greatest offensive mind in Kyle Shanahan, the sky is the limit for what Samuel can do, which is why he is easily one of San Francisco’s three most important players.

The only reason he isn’t higher on this list is that, if you haven’t heard, he and the 49ers are having a bit of a disagreement over his contract this offseason. Although all signs point to the team and player making up soon, a key part of the disagreement is supposedly over Samuel’s usage in the run game.

According to rumor, Samuel is concerned about the toll on his health playing out of the backfield could potentially have. Many of his most electric plays came running the ball last season, and his ability to do it all kept defenses guessing and allowed Shanahan to scheme up incredibly creative plays.

If Samuel truly doesn’t want to run the ball in the same way he did in 2021, his importance to the Niners takes a step down. Although he is an elite NFL receiver in his own right, his abilities in the run game cement him as a uniquely great asset.

The uncertainty around the future of his use in the run game to continue is why Samuel doesn’t crack the top two on this list.