The San Francisco 49ers have once more made star receiver Deebo Samuel out there through commerce.
Common supervisor John Lynch examined the commerce waters for the previous All-Professional simply earlier than the 2024 draft, however in search of one other alternative to succeed in the Tremendous Bowl and never receiving the worth they needed in return, the 49ers held off on consummating a deal.
Now, with the Niners reportedly granting Samuel and his reps permission to seek a trade, the “huge again’s” days of enjoying within the Bay are ending.
Samuel has a yr left on a $71.55 million deal that is scheduled to pay him $17.55 million in complete compensation for the upcoming season. San Francisco restructured Samuel’s deal final September, so if he is traded earlier than June 1, the 49ers would take a $31.55 million lifeless cash hit on the staff’s wage cap.
Samuel is slated for a $15.4 million possibility bonus on March 22, making it seemingly the 49ers will comply with a commerce earlier than then. San Francisco additionally might get monetary savings on the staff’s wage cap by releasing Samuel with a post-June 1 designation after the brand new league yr begins March 12 and earlier than the choice bonus is due, reducing the cap hit to $10.75 million over the following two years.
Samuel grew to become expendable when San Francisco signed Brandon Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million deal because the staff’s No. 1 receiver transferring ahead. Aiyuk suffered a season-ending ACL knee damage that required surgical procedure in Week 7 of the common season and is working via rehab.
San Francisco additionally signed No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings to a two-year, $15.4 million deal and chosen Ricky Pearsall within the first spherical of final yr’s draft. Samuel, 29, skilled a decline in manufacturing final season, totaling simply 51 receptions for 670 receiving yards and three scores in 15 video games performed.
These have been the six-year veteran’s worst numbers over a full season. With the 49ers and Samuel able to half methods, listed below are 5 groups that take advantage of sense as a commerce companion.
Pete Carroll is searching for skilled playmakers as he tries to rapidly rebuild the Raiders within the desert. Samuel, along with his swag and his capability to make defenders miss in house, would match Carroll’s tradition. New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly would discover revolutionary methods to make use of Samuel as a receiver and a runner.
The Raiders need assistance on offense, no matter who finally ends up enjoying quarterback for the upcoming season, and with Davante Adams now not on the roster, Samuel would offer an improve within the receiver room for the Silver and Black.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans served because the defensive coordinator for San Francisco whereas Samuel was at his greatest, so there’s a relationship there. New offensive coordinator Nick Caley served because the passing sport coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, confronted Samuel twice a yr and will use him in an analogous method as Puka Nacua in his offense.
Stefon Diggs enters free company in March and is rehabbing from season-ending ACL knee surgical procedure. Tank Dell is also recovering from a scary knee damage suffered in December. Samuel gives quarterback C.J. Stroud with a playmaker who’s conversant in the offense and may hit the bottom operating.
Restricted offensively, the Steelers might use one other playmaker on offense. Samuel’s capability as a runner suits Pittsburgh in the event that they intend to go along with Justin Fields because the beginning quarterback. The Steelers already had talks with San Francisco about Samuel and Aiyuk final offseason, so it might not take a lot to get again on the identical web page.
The Steelers want a complement on the perimeter to George Pickens and his capability to stretch the sector. Pittsburgh securing Samuel would additionally imply enjoying stay away from different AFC North groups probably excited about his companies, just like the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel served as an offensive assistant in San Francisco for the primary three seasons of Deebo’s profession and is aware of firsthand find out how to put him in advantageous conditions in his dynamic offense. Samuel additionally trains with the identical non-public receivers coach in South Florida as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Miami might use one other playmaker to make Tua Tagovailoa’s job simpler. And whereas it might take some finagling by way of cap house for the Dolphins, Samuel would add a special dimension to an offense that took a steep step backward this previous season whereas the Dolphins missed the postseason altogether.
Jayden Daniels was sensational in his rookie season, however the Commanders might use one other playmaker to assist make his job simpler. Commanders GM Adam Peters was in San Francisco’s entrance offense when Samuel was chosen within the second spherical of the 2019 draft, so he is intimately conversant in the South Carolina product’s expertise.
Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury additionally confronted Samuel twice a yr as the top coach of the Arizona Cardinals, whereas run sport coordinator Anthony Lynn would know find out how to greatest use Samuel’s distinctive talent set within the operating sport from his time as operating backs coach for San Francisco. Washington can be No. 3 within the NFL in wage cap house with a projected $78 million.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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