The San Francisco 49ers are in a unique situation entering an uncertain offseason, needing to upgrade an aging roster while players like Brock Purdy are eligible for contract extensions. Significant work needs to be done in the coming months, and that was true even before former All-Pro WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade.
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are now tasked with finding a suitable trade partner for the versatile weapon, though any theoretical leverage has virtually evaporated.
After helping cause this drama, it turns out Samuel wasn't quite finished. In new comments on Monday, the 29-year-old wideout seemingly hinted at a team he'd want to be dealt to.
Deebo thinks the Broncos could be something special next season 🐴 pic.twitter.com/8eO9CQ14IQ
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) February 10, 2025
49ers WR Deebo Samuel Hints at Potential Broncos Trade
When asked what underrated team he believed could make some noise in 2025, Samuel didn't hesitate.
"I can say Denver," Samuel quickly answered. "Bo Nix is playing really really good ball right now, your defense is outrageous, you got (Patrick Surtain) out there...I'd say the best at the position right now, probably (has) been the last two years. A couple more pieces and it'll be what it needs to be."
Interestingly enough, Samuel represents the type of piece that the Denver Broncos are missing. Courtland Sutton is an excellent receiver, but after trading Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns and losing Tim Patrick to the Detroit Lions, the Broncos are thin at receiver aside from Sutton and the rising Marvin Mims.
Sean Payton is an offensive mastermind. Samuel is a creative play-caller's best friend, so it's probable that Payton is already thinking of ways he could make a move to further complement Nix. We saw in 2023 how Samuel's talent can make life on a quarterback easy - why wouldn't Denver at least try to make a deal?
Not for nothing, Samuel did mention the difficulty of "getting past Pat Mahomes every year" and he's quite familiar with the Kansas City Chiefs superstar. He stared directly at the camera when mentioning Mahomes' name, though a competitor like Samuel will want to run toward the competition, not away from it.
No matter what happens, there should be a decent bidding war for Samuel's services. The recent wide receiver trade market indicates the 49ers shouldn't expect more than a mid-round pick for him, yet there's still hope for a top-100 draft selection if Lynch plays his leverage correctly.
All that seems certain is that Samuel's days as a 49er are over. Hopefully, San Francisco can send him to the AFC to avoid any potential retribution next season.