For the second consecutive year, the 49ers have dominated the headlines leading up to the NFL draft. Last offseason the drama surrounded the number three pick. After trading up to secure the selection, the mystery swirled around three quarterbacks, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and Trey Lance. The 49ers eventually settled on Lance despite the constant rumor mill churning out how enamored Kyle Shanahan was with Mac Jones.
What we should have learned from last year's process tells us everything we need to know about why the 49ers will not trade Deebo Samuel during the NFL Draft. If nothing else, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are very meticulous and thorough when it comes to personnel decisions. So despite the reports that the Jets and maybe even the Lions or Packers plan on making them an offer they can't refuse, they haven't had the time to properly vet a potential top ten or first-round prospect leading up to tonight's NFL Draft. This is the biggest indication that Deebo Samuel will be a 49er when the season kicks off this fall.
Furthermore, the 49ers coaching staff did not attend the 2022 NFL Combine, instead, HC Kyle Shanahan chose to use the time to get the largely overhauled coaching staff up to speed on the specifics of how things operate within the organization. Although the combine took place prior to the trade request from Deebo Samuel, this lack of preparedness by the front office to take a first-round player with confidence should allow the 49er fan base to exhale.
Trading a player of Deebo Samuel's ability is not something that you can fill with an unproven rookie and no one knows this better than the 49ers brass. After giving up three first-round picks to move up and draft Trey Lance, the team "redshirted" him to ensure that he was ready for the nuances of playing the position. When you take into account Deebo's production during his breakout 2021 campaign as a true offensive weapon, the 49ers know just how unlikely it is to get that level of production from any other player and nearly improbable for a rookie.
Ironically, there is an actual trade that could happen during the NFL draft that could bring about a resolution between the team and a different player. If the 49ers can find a way to trade QB Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers will have the cap space to get a deal done with the All-Pro WR and to start the early negotiations with Pro Bowl DE Nick Bosa.
So with the draft only hours away the 49er fan base can take a sigh of relief because the 49ers haven't done their homework on the top talent that will enable them to get the immediate returns necessary for trading a player like Deebo Samuel.