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Coaches and players have noticed a difference in the locker room now that veterans like tackle
Trent Williams and defensive end
Nick Bosa have returned to Santa Clara. The San Francisco 49ers are holding a three-day mandatory minicamp this week, concluding on Thursday.
Another new attendee is wide receiver
Deebo Samuel, who had seemingly distanced himself from the 49ers until this week.
"[Deebo], Trent, and Bosa, when they're in the building, it's a little bit different," quarterback Trey Lance said on Tuesday.
San Francisco would love to sign Samuel to a contract extension. Things got tense—at least in the media's eyes—as Samuel watched the wide receiver market explode and saw many of his peers cash in this offseason.
Of course, you probably know that Samuel requested to be traded, leaving many wondering if the receiver would attend the 49ers' mandatory minicamp. He did.
While he isn't practicing, there is no indication of lingering drama between Samuel and the team. Matt Barrows of The Athletic noted that Samuel was seen joking with teammates during Wednesday's practice, chirping at the defense from the sideline after big plays, and was even following along with a play sheet in his hands.
"That is, he had fun. It was as if everything was normal," Barrows wrote.
That's good news for the 49ers, who endeavor to hold onto last year's breakout player. Samuel is not exhibiting any animosity toward his teammates, coaches, or being in Santa Clara, so the odds of the relationship being mended appear to be good. At least, they are much better than they seemed in April.
"Deebo seems the same," fullback
Kyle Juszczyk told reporters after Wednesday's practice. "He seems like the same guy. He's always been positive, always hyping up his teammates, and that hasn't really changed."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has always been optimistic that the 49ers could successfully navigate the complicated situation. As for the team's relationship with Samuel, that was never a concern.
"Yeah, I think it's always been alright," Shanahan said on Tuesday. "I know we go through the business part of this league, but I don't think the relationship was ever too far away to not get it back to normal, and I think we're working on that. Anytime you're away from each other for a while, that's always harder. But it's good to get him back in here and start getting him around the guys again."
It's evident that the San Francisco 49ers engaged in long-term financial planning. Much discussion has centered around the feasibility of the team committing significant financial resources to two wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Some skeptics question the wisdom of such heavy investment in a single position, especially considering that the 49ers handed Samuel a substantial three-year extension merely two years ago.
Adding complexity to this debate is the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, positioning him to become the highest-paid player on the team. He will likely even become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Where he ranks in average salary will depend upon whether he can replicate the stellar performance of his Pro Bowl 2023
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
