Is it his role with the San Francisco 49ers? Is it the money? Is it a combination of both? Everyone is trying to figure out the reasoning behind wide receiver Deebo Samuel's trade request from the 49ers, the team that made him a second-round draft pick in 2019.
On Wednesday, Samuel tweeted that only he, the 49ers, and his agent know the truth, indicating that everyone else is just speculating—which is true. The receiver later deleted the tweet. The trade request seemed out of character for Samuel, who, until this offseason, seemed to love playing for Kyle Shanahan and embraced his role with the 49ers.
ESPN's Adam Schefter believes there may be another factor in the request to play elsewhere—location.
"I'm sure there are a multitude of factors as to why he would like to be traded," Schefter said on-air (h/t TheSFNiners), "but I think one of them is the fact that he simply prefers to be closer to home, South Carolina; not out west in California. California, San Francisco chose him. He didn't choose that. How many people leave school and go where they don't have to go. Deebo's in that situation. I think he'd like to be closer to home somehow.
"Now, again, there are other issues, of course. We'll see if the two sides can figure out a way to work it out. But it's still a difficult trade to complete, as much as he doesn't want to be back in San Francisco. And then the question becomes: If they can't deal him, what then?"
There are probably a lot of teams interested in inquiring about Samuel. The only reason why he wouldn't get traded is if the 49ers take that option off the table. However, if Samuel intends to never return to California, that's when things could get complicated. He could forego an accrued NFL season if he skips training camp, per the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement. That would complicate his efforts to leave in 2023.
Update: Samuel went to Instagram to seemingly shot down the speculation from Schefter. However, the post was soon deleted.
Fowler: 49ers' Deebo Samuel hasn't rescinded trade request
By David Bonilla
Jun 26
Deebo Samuel attended the San Francisco 49ers' mandatory minicamp earlier this month but did not participate in the practices. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan continued to share their optimism that the 49ers will sign Samuel to a contract extension despite the wide receiver requesting a trade earlier in the offseason.
Samuel's willingness to report to the mandatory minicamp gave the impression that there is hope that the rift between player and team can be resolved and that a contract extension might come before training camp. However, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that nothing has changed regarding Samuel's stance.
"I'm told status quo is really when he reported to minicamp; that's the last piece of news that we have here," Fowler said
ESPN's Adam Schefter assesses Jimmy Garoppolo situation as camp approaches
By Kirk Larrabee
Jun 30
Will the San Francisco 49ers find a trade partner for Jimmy Garoppolo in the coming weeks? NFL reporter Adam Schefter of ESPN seems to think there are at least a few teams who could be on the lookout for quarterback help once training camp arrives.
Schefter spoke about Garoppolo's status during an appearance on ESPN Wednesday. Not surprisingly, Schefter said he felt Garoppolo would have been moved earlier in the offseason if he hadn't gotten shoulder surgery. But, with Garoppolo's health in doubt, teams weren't willing to give up what it would have taken to acquire him in trade.
"When the 49ers went back and looked at the film from last season, I don't think they realized how well Jimmy Garoppolo played until they watched the film," Schefter said. "And I think
Bleacher Report: 49ers probably regret not extending Deebo Samuel earlier
By David Bonilla
Jun 20
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently listed one offseason regret for each NFL team (h/t Niners Noise). That regret for the Kansas City Chiefs was letting Charvarius Ward depart. In March, the cornerback signed a three-year, $40.5 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers, forcing the Chiefs to use a first-round pick on Trent McDuffie.
What about the regret for the 49ers, though? Is it the complicated situation with Jimmy Garoppolo, the veteran quarterback they would love to trade but can't? Is it not directly shooting
George Kittle wishes the 49ers didn't delay Deebo Samuel extension
By David Bonilla
Jun 23
Earlier this week, Bleacher Report listed what it believes is the one offseason regret for each NFL team. For the San Francisco 49ers, it was the team not locking wide receiver Deebo Samuel to a contract extension earlier—before the receiver market exploded earlier in the offseason and Samuel requested to be traded.
One 49ers star wishes his team had taken care of Samuel earlier, avoiding the offseason drama altogether. Samuel reported to the team's mandatory minicamp earlier this month but didn't participate in the on-field work.
"Hindsight is 20-20, right?" tight end George Kittle said this week on the
