Veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel clearly wasn't one of the San Francisco 49ers' top free-agent targets this offseason. That honor went to future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, whose addition instantly upgraded head coach Kyle Shanahan's receiving corps.
Still unsigned after his one-year stint with the Washington Commanders after being traded there by the Niners a year ago, Samuel's future employer remains an open-ended question mark.
Several of his former San Francisco teammates, including tight end George Kittle, teased the idea of Deebo coming back to the franchise where he enjoyed the bulk of his success, including that memorable 2021 All-pro campaign in which he netted 1,770 all-purpose yards.
Another former teammate, now-analyst and podcaster Richard Sherman, is subscribing to the idea and didn't hesitate to point it out on his podcast.
Richard Sherman says a 49ers-Deebo Samuel reunion makes 'a lot of sense'
When asked about the likeliest of destinations for Samuel, Sherman didn't hesitate to point out the 49ers as the most reasonable.
"San Francisco," Sherman said. "It all leads back home for these guys that's where he's had his greatest success. He had an All-Pro season in San Francisco because Kyle uses him in very unique ways that really showcase his abilities in really cool fashions. And, again, with Mike Evans in the fold, he takes so much pressure off everyone else."
Some of these FREE AGENT moves could make A LOT of sense for The @49ers #49ers #DeeboSamuels #TyreekHill pic.twitter.com/UCQIQqXZMq
— Richard Sherman Podcast (@RShermanPodcast) March 26, 2026
There's an argument to be made in favor of Samuel heading back to the West Coast, yes. While adding Evans and fellow receiver Christian Kirk helps beef up the depth chart, the pending losses of other pass catchers like Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings means the 49ers can't be set on their options. Plus, third-year pro Ricky Pearsall has had issues staying healthy over his pro career to date.
On the flip side, though, would either Samuel or the Niners entertain such a reunion after a tough split a year ago that followed the receiver asking for a trade?
That's harder to determine, and even Sherman acknowledged that. Plus, considering Evans and Kirk's presence, Samuel would certainly not have the same kind of featured role he once enjoyed in Shanahan's offense.
It'd be interesting to see how long Samuel remains unsigned, particularly with teams now looking at April's NFL Draft to restock their needs.
But, the longer the veteran goes unsigned, the bigger the likelihood of Samuel coming back to San Francisco, as Sherman and others have suggested.