Deebo Samuel trade could involve Packers, Chiefs, Jets
Two issues have change into instantly obvious within the wake of Deebo Samuel’s latest commerce request going public Wednesday: A multitude of groups have curiosity in buying him, however few really imagine the San Francisco 49ers have any curiosity in letting him go.
“They don’t wish to commerce him,” one NFL government stated Wednesday. “In any respect.”
There’s little cause to disagree, given how instrumental Samuel’s expertise and flexibility has change into to the 49ers offense underneath head coach (and now de facto offensive coordinator) Kyle Shanahan. The self-described “extensive again” took on a twin position receiving and working the ball final season, reworking him right into a first-team All-Professional and arguably a very powerful participant in San Francisco’s scheme.
He discovered an elite-level area of interest that was anticipated to translate into one of many richest (if not the richest) extensive receiver contract extensions within the NFL this offseason. After all, that was earlier than the wage scale was dramatically raised by a number of new wideout offers, together with the Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams, Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill and Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs.
Notably, impasses in negotiations for Adams and Hill in the end ended with them being traded earlier than signing their new offers. Which is now apparently the route Samuel needs to take, though a league supply instructed Yahoo Sports activities Wednesday that the 49ers have been ready to place Samuel into the identical monetary firm.
“[The 49ers are] able to do an extension,” the supply stated. “Nevertheless it takes two sides to do a deal and that’s not the place it’s proper now. It doesn’t imply it will possibly’t ultimately get again there, however that’s not the place it’s and it’s arduous to say why, precisely.”
Samuel has been cryptic, though his subsequent contract is predicted to mirror that taking part in a high-end hybrid position in a scheme, not like most different receivers, takes an extra punishing toll on his physique. As one basic supervisor put it Wednesday, it’s additionally why groups are prepared to raise him into the identical firm as Adams and Hill, who’ve an extended résumé of success.
“What he did final season was actually distinctive and it’s actually not one thing you’d even wish to strive with most receivers,” the overall supervisor stated. “It takes a powerful man bodily and mentally after which additionally simply the willingness to do it. To me, that’s why I’d even put him up there with Tyreek, as a result of it’s the particular traits that you just search for.
“Tyreek has particular velocity that’s arduous to organize for — for any group. I’d say Deebo’s versatility and skill to do each issues properly, higher than properly, out extensive and nonetheless else you get him the ball … it’s particular at his place, too.”
One other basic supervisor within the extensive receiver market this offseason was requested if he would put Samuel’s commerce worth in the identical realm as Adams and Hill, who each commanded first-round picks and extra.
“Undoubtedly sure,” he stated.
That doesn’t imply San Francisco will in the end deal Samuel, after all. It could maintain on to him and push him to play out the ultimate yr of his deal in 2022 after which apply a franchise tag transferring ahead, in hopes that an extension could be hammered out. Or the franchise braintrust may go the best way of the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs and hearken to presents, hoping that a big sufficient package deal — together with a first-round choose simply to begin — may change some minds within the constructing.
These will probably be two attention-grabbing groups to look at transferring ahead, on condition that Inexperienced Bay had been poking across the veteran commerce market even earlier than dealing Adams and the Chiefs nonetheless need to fill the void left behind by Hill. Nevertheless, it stands to cause that both of these groups may have held onto their No. 1 wideouts within the first place, quite than dealing related compensation for somebody who’s unfamiliar within the system and requires the identical max-level receiver deal.
Different groups are additionally wideouts on this yr’s draft, together with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. However none have been as aggressive about pursuing attainable commerce targets than the New York Jets, who missed out on Hill however have continued to do work on different attainable commerce candidates. The Jets have the fourth and tenth total picks within the upcoming draft and are broadly believed to be locked in on taking a receiver with one in all them.
However the questions for the Jets will probably be much like what they’re for each inquiring group proper now. First, what do they give thought to Samuel’s monitor document, which incorporates one monster season which adopted two others riddled with accidents? Second, would he draw a bigger commerce package deal than the a number of picks given up within the Adams and Hill offers? And eventually — most significantly — do the 49ers actually have any intention in any way of critically weighing commerce presents?
If the reply to the ultimate query is sure, then Samuel will seemingly be dealt earlier than the draft. And the measure of the place is in the end going to be decided by how groups really feel concerning the first two questions.
