After months of media-induced drama, the San Francisco 49ers finally locked up star wide receiver Deebo Samuel to a contract extension. The deal is reportedly for three years and worth $71.55 million with a maximum value of $73.5 million. The $58.1 million in guaranteed money is the most offered by the franchise. Only quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's $74.1 million was more.
The 49ers kicked off training camp last week, but Samuel has not participated in practices as he awaited a resolution to his contract situation. The team was off on Sunday, resuming practice today.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters before today's practice and shared his thoughts on Samuel's massive contract extension. He also confirmed that the deal has been signed, which was first reported by Pro Football Talk, and is being turned into the league to make it official.
"It was awesome to get Deebo's deal done," Shanahan told reporters. "You guys know it's been a while, but just pumped they got it done. And I know how pumped he is, how pumped we are, and glad to have him back out here at practice."
Today, the 49ers will hold their first padded practice of training camp. The team is expected to ease Samuel back onto the practice field, though.
There was some speculation that Samuel was unhappy with his role as a part-time running back last season, leading to the receiver requesting a trade in April. Shanahan insists that no talks of usage came up during the contract negotiations, and the 49ers will continue to utilize players in a way that gives them "the best chance to win."
"If we wanted to move Deebo to running back, that would have been something that we were honest about," Shanahan said. "Towards the end of last year, the last few games, he became our one-two punch. And also Elijah [Mitchell], our most physical back, he wasn't the healthiest either. And we thought we had to play our two best guys to get done what we wanted to with our team, which was awesome to have that option to do that."
Shanahan added: "My favorite thing about Deebo is how much he inspires people. And he inspires me more than almost any player I've watched on the field, the way he runs the ball, whether you're handing it to him, whether you're throwing it to him, whether he's catching it on a kick. And these aren't things you have to talk him into doing. Usually, he talks you into doing [it] because Deebo loves playing football, and he loves helping us win, and I think that's what everybody sees on Sunday when you guys watch him on TV, and I think that's why this country really likes Deebo also."
The 49ers coach was also asked about the next steps for the talented wide receiver, who amassed 1,770 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns last season.
"Just to continue doing what he's done," Shanahan responded. "When Deebo stays healthy, and he's able to practice and able to go through things, Deebo's capable of doing anything. And that's why he's helped us so much to win, whether it's in the pass game or the run game, whether it's blocking, whether it's throwing—the one time we asked him to throw. When you have guys who have skill sets who can do a number of things, you want to always keep building off that."
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