The San Francisco 49ers are suddenly scrambling after former All-Pro WR Deebo Samuel, who has spent his entire six-year career with the organization after being drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, suddenly asked for a trade.
Samuel's declining production and sideline antics made it increasingly likely that he'd be dealt, yet it's still a surprise to be faced with the end of his 49ers tenure. Unfortunately for general manager John Lynch and his team, the timing of Samuel's request erodes much of the leverage that'd typically be used in a deal.
That, coupled with the fact that San Francisco could save over $20 million in 2025 by making a transaction after June 1, suggests that the 49ers won't get much of a haul for the versatile playmaker. It might sting, but this is the type of trade you could expect to see when it's all said and done.
49ers Send WR Deebo Samuel to Chargers for Pennies in New Projected Trade
In this prediction, the 49ers send Samuel to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2026 fifth and seventh-round pick while sending a sixth-rounder back. Since it only makes sense for San Francisco to trade him after June 1, there's no realistic scenario that sees the team getting any 2025 draft capital back for him.
That also decreases the likelihood that Lynch is able to recoup any real value representative of Samuel's potential contributions. Leverage is king in trade negotiations and the 49ers don't have any. Even still, saving $20 million on the cap goes a long way, especially if San Francisco is serious about acquiring Cleveland Browns star DE Myles Garrett.
Samuel averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry and managed only 670 receiving yards this season. At 29 years old, he's nearing the end of his athletic prime. His style of play suggests the downfall will be swift, which only makes trading him more difficult.
As a cherry on top to destroy the 49ers' ability to get a nice return, Samuel's cap hit in 2025 is nearly $16 million. Any team that acquires him will likely need to quickly sign him to an extension, and the NFL landscape suggests these types of transactions almost never result in the type of haul San Francisco would hope for.
The end is near for Samuel in a 49ers uniform. No matter what team he's traded to though, the most important domino yet to fall will be how Lynch spends the $20+ million in cap space he'll soon free up.