San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has officially requested to be traded. We will see if he does get dealt to another team, but if he does, the Niners should look to the Cleveland Browns as a trade partner.
The Samuel news is not too surprising. Even though general manager John Lynch gave Deebo a vote of confidence after the regular season and said the 49ers were not looking to trade him, there were signs the multifaceted wide receiver was not pleased and it was obvious that he was not at his best in 2024. After Samuel struggled and failed to produce the way he usually does, he claimed that he was not struggling, he was just not getting the ball.
After those comments, in the very next game against the Los Angeles Rams the Niners had to have if they wanted any chance to make the playoffs, Samuel had a massive drop that likely would have resulted in a touchdown and could have changed the showdown's complexion. He did have a good game against the Miami Dolphins late in the season, but it seemed obvious that Samuel was on the decline.
Unfortunately, this likely limits what the 49ers would be able to get for him in a trade. However, the Niners and the Browns are in a similar conundrum in that they both have high-profile players who want to be traded.
Star edge rusher Myles Garrett recently said that he wants out of Cleveland and wants to win a Super Bowl. While the 49ers trading for him would be difficult, if they are able to work Samuel into a deal, that could help get a trade across the finish line.
There are differing reports on what it would take for a team to land Garrett. Reporter Dianna Russinni of The Athletic reported that an NFL GM speaking on the condition of anonymity said that a first- and a second-round pick with a player thrown in could get a deal done for Garrett.
So, let’s craft a trade.
49ers trade Deebo Samuel (and picks) to Browns for Myles Garrett
The 49ers give up their 2025 first- and second-round picks along with Samuel in exchange for Garrett. That could be an appetizing package for Cleveland especially considering it's at a weakened negotiating point since Garrett publicized his desire to be traded.
Even if Samuel has declined a bit, he still has talent as a wide receiver and can be a solid pass catcher for a team. It's doubtful the Browns would be able to get a substantially better player than Samuel with a second-round pick, so they may decide that is the best offer on the table. Of course, they would likely have to take on some of Samuel’s contract, so that could be an impediment to getting a deal done.
Nonetheless, the Niners would be wise to try and trade Samuel to the Browns in exchange for Garrett. The 49ers defense would truly be special with both Nick Bosa and Garrett trying to sack the quarterback, and giving up a player in Samuel who appears to be on the decline would work out perfectly for San Francisco.