Deebo Samuel trade request shifts 49ers offseason needs

The San Francisco 49ers’ list of offseason needs got a shakeup on Super Bowl Sunday when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported wide receiver Deebo Samuel requested a trade.

Sitting atop the list of needs are the offensive line and defensive line in some order. San Francisco needs to find an upgrade at center, and a starting left guard. They also need starting help and depth at defensive end and defensive tackle.

After that it was murky. They have a slew of things to address at cornerback, safety, linebacker and tight end, but Samuel’s trade request made wide receiver a much more clear need for San Francisco this offseason. It may even land directly behind the trenches if we’re jotting down a list.

Receiver was already a position we’ve discussed as a need for the 49ers, and that was before it came to light they’d likely not have Samuel on their roster in 2025.

If we remove Samuel from the mix, Brandon Aiyuk sits as the clear No. 1 on the WR depth chart. He’s coming back from a major knee injury he suffered in Week 7 of last season. That throws his availability and effectiveness into question for 2025.

Jauan Jennings looks like the clear No. 2 WR on the roster, but he’s only under contract through 2025 and his play last year may have elevated his market beyond where the 49ers might be able to keep him on the roster after his deal is up.

San Francisco did pick Ricky Pearsall in the first round and Jacob Cowing in the fourth round of last year’s draft. Pearsall flashed at the end of last year, but he’s not a sure thing going into his second year. Cowing was a relative non-factor and will be a significant question mark entering 2025.

The 49ers need to at the very least add reliable depth in their receiving corps, and it would behoove them to perhaps draft a receiver earlier than they initially anticipated. Getting young talent into the receivers room allows them to overcome some of the potential obstacles at the position this year while also building out an arsenal for quarterback Brock Purdy.