The San Francisco 49ers selected South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel with the fourth pick (No. 36 overall) in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Samuel (5-11, 214) visited with the 49ers on April 16 and met with the team in February at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Samuel had 62 receptions for 882 yards (14.2-yard average) with 11 touchdowns as a senior with the Gamecocks in 2018. He participated in the Senior Bowl in January and was part of the South squad coached by 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff.
"I would say the best part of my game is really route-running," Samuel told NFL Network during the week leading to the Senior Bowl. "I'm really physical and great after the catch. As far as the game and what I have to work on, I would say emphasize on blocking."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 5-foot-11 and 214-pound Samuel had a 40-time of 4.48 seconds, a vertical jump of 39 inches, a broad jump of 122 inches, completed the three-cone drill in 73 seconds, 15 reps in the bench press, and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.14 seconds. Other measurables for Samuel include an arm length of 31 3/8 inches and hands that measure 10 inches.
"At 5-foot-11 and 214 pounds, Samuel is stronger than he is bigger, which might be what Shanahan covets more," wrote Peter Panacy in this piece looking at potential Day 2 targets for the 49ers. "And if Samuel's route-running abilities translate to red-zone potential, Shanahan's offense won't worry too much about the receiver's relative lack of height."
NFL.com projected Samuel to be a second-round draft pick.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, who compares Samuel to Pharoh Cooper, wrote the following about Samuel within his scouting report:
"Tyshun "Deebo" Samuel lives up to his nickname (it comes from a tough guy in the movie "Friday") and plays each game like he's stepping into an alley fight. While Samuel is tough and competitive, he lacks suddenness and might need scheme help with motion and bunch formations to help free him against NFL man coverage. He is a gamer who thrives once the ball is in his hands, and he might be able to help a team from the slot if he can stay healthy."
Dane Brugler of The Athletic wrote the following about Samuel within his scouting report:
"A three-year starter at South Carolina, Samuel lined up outside and in the slot in the Gamecocks' spread offense, often motioning into the backfield and getting involved in the run game. He also made an impact on special teams (return man and gunner on punt coverage) and had a nose for the end zone, scoring 30 touchdowns over his career (16 receiving, 7 rushing, 4 kickoff returns, 2 passing and 1 fumble return). Samuel isn't a true burner, but he moves with twitch, contact balance and the vision to find open space. Overall, Samuel's ideal offensive identity will depend on scheme, but he is one of the better YAC players in this draft class with his ability to find space, projecting best in the slot and as a return man."
Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst wrote the following about Samuel within his scouting report:
"Samuel rebounded last season after he suffered a devastating injury that put him on the sidelines in 2017, and he finished the regular season with a terrific performance at the Senior Bowl. He possesses all the skills to be a productive second receiver in variety of systems and return punts and kicks."
Joe Marino of The Draft Network wrote the following about Samuel within his scouting report:
"Samuel has been victimized by poor quarterback play at South Carolina but still showcased an exciting skill set. An outstanding route runner to all levels of the field, Samuel is a fit for any scheme with the upside to play outside and from the slot. His blend of ball skills and post-catch ability make him an intriguing weapon. By year three, Samuel has the upside be a prolific top-3 option for a productive NFL passing offense that makes plays in a a variety of ways."
Measurables
Height: 5-11
Weight: 214 lbs.
Arm length: 31 3/8 inches
Hand length: 10 inches
NFL Scouting Combine
40-time: 4.48 seconds
Vertical: 39 inches
Broad jump: 122 inches
3-cone drill: 73 seconds
Bench press: 15 reps
20-yard shuttle: 4.14 seconds
| College Statistics | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Class | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||||||||
| 2015 | South Carolina | FR | 5 | 12 | 161 | 13.4 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2016 | South Carolina | SO | 10 | 59 | 783 | 13.3 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2017 | South Carolina | JR | 3 | 15 | 250 | 16.7 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2018 | South Carolina | SR | 12 | 62 | 882 | 14.2 | 11 | ||||||||
| Total | South Carolina | 148 | 2076 | 14.0 | 16 | ||||||||||
