Deebo Samuel might be tired of waiting for his new deal as he watches other NFL wide receivers cash in this offseason. Davante Adams got a new deal from the Las Vegas Raiders worth up to $28 million annually after being traded from the Green Bay Packers. Tyreek Hill inked a new contract worth up to $30 million annually after moving from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins. The Buffalo Bills locked Stefon Diggs to a long-term contract, paying the receiver $24 million annually.
Samuel continues to wait for the 49ers to show the same kind of love. The dynamic wide receiver might have shown a little frustration by removing all traces of his current team from Instagram, which is a negotiating tactic that is not uncommon these days but not necessarily effective.
There was a sketchy report that Samuel might be seeking to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. No one really bought into that, though, since it seemed unrealistic. However, a new report has a more realistic projection for Samuel's asking price.
"We're told that Samuel, who is slated to make just under $4 million this season, will be looking for a contract in the range of about $25 million per year," wrote Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network.
That sounds more fitting. Such a deal would make Samuel the fourth highest-paid receiver, behind Hill, Adams, and DeAndre Hopkins, but earning more annually than others like Diggs.
Samuel is a unique player too. The 49ers often utilized the wideout as a running back last season, and Samuel set an NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a receiver with eight.
There has also been a lot of speculation that the 49ers might opt to trade Samuel while his stock is high. After all, last season was the receiver's first surpassing 1,000 receiving yards. However, the Pro Football Network analyst doesn't believe things will dissolve to that level.
"The belief in league circles as of April 12 is the Niners will likely extend Deebo's contract rather than trade him," wrote Pauline. "If Jimmy Garoppolo is traded from the team as expected, San Francisco would save about $25.5 million in salary and won't have a high-priced quarterback on the payroll."
Samuel racked up 1,770 total yards of offense in 2021, getting into the end zone 14 times and throwing a touchdown pass. With San Francisco 49ers looking to start second-year quarterback Trey Lance in 2022, it seems unlikely that the team would be willing to part with one of its most impactful offensive weapons.
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