The San Francisco 49ers could start next season without do-it-all receiver Deebo Samuel as the team has granted him permission to seek a trade.
Videos by FanBuzz
ESPN's Adam Schefter provided the update on Feb. 9 as the nation prepared for Super Bowl 59. He spoke to Samuel, who told ESPN that he and agent Tory Dandy think it's best that they find a new team.
The 49ers have granted Deebo Samuel and his agent Tory Dandy permission to find a trade partner for the wide receiver, Samuel told ESPN. This comes after Samuel asked San Francisco to trade him during the players’ exit meetings after the season.
“It was a hard conversation to… pic.twitter.com/uuEsxgFHIJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 9, 2025
Samuel, a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has spent his entire career in the Bay Area. He has been a proven weapon for the 49ers while delivering 5,935 yards from scrimmage and 42 touchdowns.
This includes a career-best season in 2021 when he tallied 1,405 receiving yards and led the league with 18.2 yards per reception. 2021 marked Samuel's first trip to the Pro Bowl.
Last season, however, Samuel posted career lows in receptions (51) and targets (81) — based on a full season's worth of snaps. The only time the veteran posted fewer targets and receptions was in 2020 when he missed nine games due to injury.
Samuel posted 806 yards from scrimmage and only four touchdowns as the 49ers dealt with injuries and ultimately finished 6-11 and fourth in the NFC West.
This is not the first time that Samuel has requested a trade from the 49ers. He also did so in 2022. The team ultimately signed him to a three-year, $71.5 million extension.
2025 marks the final season of this extension. The 49ers will owe Samuel $17.55 million.
The 49ers have made moves that will help facilitate Samuel's departure via trade. One of the biggest was using a first-round pick last season to select wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The rookie posted 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns this season after recovering from a gunshot wound.
The 49ers also inked Brandon Aiyuk to a four-year extension in August. This deal, worth $120 million, will keep Aiyuk in the Bay Area through the 2028 season as the top option in the passing attack.
