Total Pro Sports
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch essentially confirmed that the Deebo Samuel era is over on the West Coast.
Before Super Bowl 59, it was reported that the 49ers gave Deebo Samuel and his agent permission to speak with other teams about a possible trade. The 29-year-old is heading into the last season of a three-year extension he signed in 2022.
Per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Lynch told reporters at the NFL Combine that the 49ers plan to give the 2021 All-Pro wideout “a fresh start” in 2025:
“You know, still not interested (referencing his previous comment about not letting quality players go). But along those lines of the financial constraints, and some conversations we’ve had with Deebo — it’s something that we’ve been forthright with that. We’re on good terms with Deebo. He’s asked for a fresh start and I think we’re going to honor that.
Don’t like seeing great players — and he is a great player, I think often one of my favorite draft picks in my time. He makes plays. He makes game-changing plays. Everything’s good. But at some point, time happens and he asked for that, we don’t always — there’s contracts and things. But it probably makes sense, so we’re at least allowing him to look. And we’re having conversations, we’ll see how it goes.”
#49ers GM John Lynch says they will "honor" Deebo Samuel's request for a fresh start.
Samuel has been granted permission to seek a trade, and his tenure in San Francisco will end after six years. pic.twitter.com/quDyZBLBgS
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 26, 2025
Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the 49ers in the 2022 offseason following a career year, but he walked back on it and signed a three-year extension worth $71.55 million. Since then, the 49ers have played in two NFC Championship Games and were one play away from beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58.
Samuel is coming off a disappointing season for his standards in which he caught just 51 passes for 670 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 136 rushing yards and one rushing score.
Samuel is just one of many impact players on a 49ers offense featuring Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Rick Pearsall. If he joins a new team, Samuel will get a better opportunity to re-emerge as a No. 1 wide receiver.
The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers are among the contenders who could use a player like Samuel to bolster their offense.
