This would probably be the best-case scenario for the 49ers after Deebo Samuel requested a trade.
The first time wide receiver Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers, he was a prized asset, one coming off an All-Pro 2021 campaign in which he netted 1,770 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns.
He hasn’t been the same player since.
Now, Samuel has again requested a trade, and the Niners appear inclined to honor such a request. While it might not make much sense to trade him now, at least financially, both sides seem willing to move on.
A dead-cap hit of more than $31 million is reason enough for San Francisco not to trade Samuel just yet, although a release with a post-June 1 designation is certainly in play.
That said, San Francisco might be willing to honor Samuel’s trade request now if the return was too good to pass up.
And there’s one proposed trade that could fit the bill.
PFF’s latest mock NFL Draft has Deebo Samuel trade that’s too good to be true
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema dished out a post-Super Bowl mock that kicks off with a blockbuster deal between the 49ers and the No. 5 overall-picking Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jags, off to yet another fresh start under first-year head coach Liam Coen, could make some splash moves this spring, while the fanbase is eager for success now.
In Sikkema’s mock, the Niners bite on a deal with the Jags by sending Samuel and the No. 11 overall pick to North Florida in exchange for the fifth overall selection:
With the newfound pick, San Francisco drafts Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, viewed by many as the top defensive player in this year’s class.
Of the trade, Sikkema wrote:
“The 49ers have reportedly allowed wide receiver Deebo Samuel to seek a trade. This isn’t the first time they’ve explored trading Samuel, so it seems more likely to go through this time. Here, they do a pick swap with Jacksonville (about a second-round trade value) to jump up and get one of the top defensive linemen in the draft.”
Related story: 5 teams would be itching to land 49ers WR Deebo Samuel
Now, most 49ers fans probably don’t feel Samuel is worth a second-round pick, especially after his notably down year in 2024 in which he had career lows in both receiving yards per game (44.7) and yards per rush (3.2).
But, Coen stems from Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay’s tree, so the style of offense wouldn’t be wholly unfamiliar, and Samuel would indeed bring some flair to a downtrodden Jaguars franchise.
From the 49ers’ perspective, even if they had to eat a lot of dead cap space, such a deal would be an absolute steal.
Moving up into the top five for a player who no longer fits into their immediate plans would constitute a best-case scenario for the Niners.
So, that’s probably why nothing of the sort would happen.
