The biggest story of the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason so far has been Deebo Samuel’s request for a trade. The former All-Pro receiver was one of the league’s top weapons in 2021, racking up 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 total touchdowns.
But he hasn’t come close to replicating those numbers, averaging 929 yards from scrimmage and seven total touchdowns over the past three seasons.
With Samuel’s $15.8 million cap hit for next season, it may be hard for the 49ers to find a trade partner for a receiver that appears to be on the decline. But San Francisco received some excellent news on Wednesday that could help them pull off a deal in the coming weeks.
NFL’s Salary Cap Increase Will Help 49ers Trade Deebo Samuel
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, teams were informed on Wednesday that the NFL’s salary cap will be set between $277.5 million and $281.5 million for the 2025 season. The increase is somewhere between $22.1 million and $26.1 million from last year’s cap figure and is more than what most executives were anticipating this season.
The NFL today informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year's $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 19, 2025
While some front office personnel are surprised, it may not be completely unexpected. The NFL had a similar spike last year when the salary cap saw the largest increase of all time from $224.8 million to $255.4 million. With the league continuing to print money, a big jump could have been anticipated and it helps teams like the Niners who are looking to make a deal.
Using the median figure of $279.5 million, Over The Cap projects the New England Patriots to have $126.6 million in cap space heading into the offseason. Other receiver-needy teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders ($99.7 million), Washington Commanders ($82.2 million) and Los Angeles Chargers ($70.4 million) have more room to acquire Samuel after the cap spike.
Even if a team isn’t sure about taking on the entirety of Samuel’s contract, the 49ers can accommodate them. With $50.6 million in cap space, San Francisco can take on part of the $17.56 million in salary remaining on the contract and get rid of a player that seems to have worn out his welcome by the bay.
It’s a positive development for a situation the 49ers would rather not be in. But it could also help them reach a conclusion in the near future.