The San Francisco 49ers may sign wide receiver Deebo Samuel to a contract extension before or during training camp. The star player is entering the final year of his rookie deal and became so frustrated by the uncertainty and watching his peers break the banks with other teams that he requested to be traded.
The good news is that the 49ers held their minicamp this week, and Samuel was on hand for both practices. No, he wasn't suited up. However, he looked to be part of the team, joking with teammates, following the practice with his own play sheet, and chirping at the defense from the sideline, all while showing no animosity toward anyone.
That bodes well for the 49ers' chances to lock up their do-it-all wideout.
"I think the best case for the 49ers is that we all wasted a lot of time (discussing the player-team rift)," NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said this week on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t Niners Wire).
"I think what the 49ers have done is told Deebo Samuel we are not gonna use you as a RB.. that could speak louder than a new contract" ~@RapSheet#PMSLive #FTTB pic.twitter.com/gdbcpnY9ax
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 7, 2022
Rapoport added that Samuel has been great for offseason chatter since April. Of course, that has simmered down in recent weeks. San Francisco did not grant Samuel's wish for a trade, and has repeatedly stated the team intends to hold onto their best offensive player.
Samuel contributed 1,770 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns last season. He was a significant reason for the 49ers' success.
So, when can fans expect a deal to be completed?
"What the 49ers, I think, have done is try to say to him, 'We are not gonna use you as a running back,'" Rapoport said. "They drafted a running back in the third round. They have a couple of good players, running backs, coming back from last year. I think they'd like to use him on the gadget plays but not give it to him between the tackles 15 times. That is something that actually speaks maybe louder than a new contract."
Three hundred sixty-five of his 1,770 total yards came rushing the football. Last season, his eight rushing touchdowns set a single-season NFL record by a receiver. Samuel averaged over seven carries a game through his final 11 games of the 2021 season, including the playoffs.
The dual-threat role increased Samuel's value to the team. However, it may have also complicated things.
"He wants to be paid as a receiver," Rapoport said. "... This contract is great, but he doesn't want it to be his only contract. I mean, we see what happens to running backs—they get beat up. It's actually really forward-thinking and smart. It really is."
While general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are optimistic that a deal gets completed, Rapoport sounds less confident, saying the two sides have "a lot of work to get done."