There’s been a lot of hype about the San Francisco 49ers reuniting with Deebo Samuel recently after the wide receiver’s social media activity showing him working out, as he tries to get attention and land with a new team.
While a reunion feels fairly unlikely, especially given Samuel’s reported reaction to San Francisco signing Mike Evans, there’s one idea out there for a Deebo reunion that is just crazy enough that it could work.
How about 49ers 'RB' Deebo Samuel?
Former 49ers safety Donte Whitner has been very busy cooking up hot takes this offseason on his podcast. While they’re mostly just to try to get attention, the idea he has for a reunion with Samuel is genuinely intriguing.
He argues the Niners should bring Samuel back strictly as a running back rather than as a wide receiver. We know that during Deebo's peak with San Francisco, he was used as a “wide back” and was basically interchangeable by being able to play running back and receiver.
Given San Francisco’s lack of experience behind Christian McCaffrey on the running back depth chart, second-year player Jordan James and rookie Kaelon Black are the current favorites to serve as backup, it may not be the worst idea to bring in a guy who has at least had success running the ball in the NFL.
Deebo does have success as a running back-type of player, but...
Samuel’s best years as a rusher came from 2021 to 2023. In those three seasons, he had 138 carries for 822 yards and 16 touchdowns. He averaged 6 yards per carry, which is nothing to snort at.
There was a drop-off in 2024, his final year with San Francisco, as he had 136 yards on 42 attempts and averaged just over 3 yards per carry. Last season with the Washington Commanders, he had just 17 carries for 75 yards. Given Samuel's declining rushing numbers, it is fair to wonder if he would really be an effective rusher at this stage in his career.
It’s a fun thought experiment, but the reality is Samuel’s ego probably wouldn’t permit him to transition to running back. It would be the best way for him to fit on the 49ers roster since they already have so many wide receivers, but odds are he wants to continue to play wide receiver. If he did try to be a running back, the wear and tear might be too much for him and could cut his career short.
While a fun scenario to dream about, Samuel will probably remain a wide receiver, and in all likelihood, he will sign with another team at some point.
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