The 49ers use Deebo Samuel as a tradable asset in order to move up in Niner Noise's latest seven-round mock NFL Draft.
Back in the spring of 2022, San Francisco 49ers fans were eagerly wondering whether or not their team would trade wide receiver Deebo Samuel to begin that year's NFL Draft after he requested a trade amid a contractual standoff.
After Round 1 passed, the 2021 first-team All-Pro was still very much on the roster and subsequently signed a contract extension not too long thereafter.
Now, with the 2025 draft a couple of months away, Samuel again has requested a trade, and it appears as if the Niners will grant him his wish of playing elsewhere this season.
From a financial perspective, releasing Samuel with a post-June 1 designation makes much more sense than a trade, as the latter scenario would slap San Francisco with more than $31 million in dead money.
That said, if the 49ers use Samuel to obtain a lofty draft pick this April, incurring that cost might just be worth it.
Using Pro Football Focus' mock draft simulator, that's what we propose in Niner Noise's latest seven-round mock.
49ers trade Deebo Samuel in this 7-round mock NFL Draft
San Francisco owns the No. 11 overall pick in this year's draft. A straight-up trade of Samuel between now and April likely wouldn't net general manager John Lynch much more than a third-round pick, at best, considering the wide receiver is coming off a down year.
That said, if Samuel is used as part of a trade-up package, things could be notably different.
Let's mock it out.
Round 1, No. 6 overall (from Raiders): DL Mason Graham, Michigan
Here's your trade!
With the New York Jets potentially eyeing more help for their own defensive line at No. 7 overall, and the Las Vegas Raiders missing out on the top quarterbacks who'll go within the top five, Lynch leapfrogs Gang Green by using Samuel as a trade-up chip to get to No. 6 overall (it worked on PFF's mock draft tool, in case you were wondering).
From Vegas' perspective, it has more than enough cap space to offer Samuel the contract extension he'll likely want post-trade, and the Raiders will be seeking more offensive weaponry this offseason anyway.
In return, the 49ers ensure they get arguably the best interior defensive lineman in this year's class, Michigan's Mason Graham, who'll almost assuredly won't fall out of the top five, let alone the top 10.
And that might be the Niners' biggest roster need this April.
Round 1, No. 31 overall (from Chiefs): DE Landon Jackson, Arkansas
What, you thought we'd stop with just one trade? No.
In this scenario, trading up to get into the tail end of Round 1 isn't so much about the player (although it is) but rather having the flexibility to potentially apply a fifth-year option for a premium position: edge rusher.
The Kansas City Chiefs have more holes than they'd care to admit after losing big in the Super Bowl, so stockpiling more picks isn't necessarily a bad thing, and plenty of draft pundits feel there isn't much of a drop from pick Nos. 20 through 50, in terms of talent.
Meanwhile, San Francisco nets a pass-rusher to pair with All-Pro Nick Bosa, Arkansas' Landon Jackson, a fringe first-rounder who is scheme-versatile and good enough against the run to suggest he'd soon become an every-down player.
If Jackson flourishes, boasting that fifth-year option would be a massive bonus.
Round 3, No. 75 overall: OT Charles Grant, William & Mary
The 49ers have to consider both an upgrade over right tackle Colton McKivitz and a potential long-term replacement for the aging future Hall of Famer, left tackle Trent Williams. It also wouldn't hurt to have a shoo-in replacement for left guard Aaron Banks, who's a free agent this offseason.
Despite a small-school pedigree, William & Mary's Charles Grant is physically gifted and is a solid prospect for a run-heavy, zone-style offense, not unlike what the Niners operate.
At worst, the 6-foot-4 and 300-pound Grant is a viable backup for the O-line. At best, he has the potential to be a day-one starter at left guard before shifting out to tackle within a year or two.
Round 3, No. 99 overall (compensatory): CB Mello Dotson, Kansas
Veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward is a pending free agent, and it doesn't seem likely he'll return to the Bay Area, leaving San Francisco with Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green as the only qualified starters at the position.
With the youth movement in play, going after Kansas' Mello Dotson would be an excellent way to close out Round 3, especially considering the 6-foot-1 defensive back has some ballhawking skills, evidenced by 11 collegiate interceptions and five pick-sixes.
Round 4, No. 137 overall (compensatory): TE Benjamin Yurosek, Georgia
This isn't the first time Niner Noise has mocked Georgia tight end Benjamin Yurosek to the 49ers, who have perennial sought a quality No. 2 to pair with All-Pro George Kittle but have yet failed to do so.
Yurosek offers versatility to line up on the perimeter or in tight along the line. While his separation and blocking are nowhere near Kittle's prowess, having the dynamic fallback option should be a priority for the Niners, who can take advantage of a deep tight end class this spring.
Round 4, No. 138 overall (compensatory): S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr. has concerns about his smallish size (5-foot-10 and 200 pounds), but he makes up for it with versatility to play multiple spots within the secondary while displaying an uncanny football IQ. Rarely caught out of position, Bowman isn't a liability against the run, which dogged San Francisco's defense a season ago.
It's a need, too, with the 49ers poised to move on from safety Talanoa Hufanga this offseason, thereby needing a secondary pairing with second-year pro Malik Mustapha.
Round 5, No. 149 overall: DL Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
Grabbing some additional D-line depth has to be a priority this spring, so the addition of Texas A&M's Shemar Turner makes sense here in Round 5.
Turner is unpolished and will require some refinement by defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. But, the 6-foot-4 and 300 pound lineman has quality inherited traits that are very coachable, and turning him into a rotational interior presence should boost the Niners' D-line deficiencies.
Round 6, No. 187 overall: WR Kaden Prather, Maryland
San Francisco needs to alleviate the loss of Samuel, yes, especially with the potential fellow wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk could miss the start of 2025 after tearing both his ACL and MCL last season.
Relying on wideouts Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall isn't the worst idea, but netting some developmental depth would be smart, especially if a prospect has uncanny traits that also solve another pressing 49ers need.
Maryland's Kaden Prather is a potential red-zone threat, an area in which the Niners struggled last season. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Prather is a big body not unlike Jennings, and the prospect is also a willing blocker, too.
Round 7, No. 256 overall (compensatory): LB Greg Penn III, LSU
San Francisco has to guard against the possibility of losing star linebacker Dre Greenlaw to free agency this offseason. Even if he re-signs, grabbing some youthful depth to guard against injury wouldn't be a bad idea, especially considering the incumbent alternatives of Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune are largely unproven in full-time roles.
If Greenlaw departs, getting LSU's Greg Penn III could help.
Penn, 225 pounds, has solid football smarts and good tackling technique, aspects the 49ers lacked last season behind All-Pro Fred Warner and minus Greenlaw, who was out most of the year because of injury.
Not overly athletic, Penn nevertheless helps round out a depth chart and is a great flier pick toward the end of the draft.