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How valuable is
Deebo Samuel to the San Francisco 49ers? According to FS1's Colin Cowherd, the team may struggle to secure a win against the Detroit Lions on Sunday if the star receiver is sidelined.
Samuel's status for the NFC Championship Game remains uncertain due to a shoulder injury. Fortunately, tests revealed no broken bones, a positive result compared to his Week 6 injury against the Cleveland Browns, where he suffered a hairline fracture in his shoulder. San Francisco lost that game and the two subsequent games that Samuel missed.
Samuel's status for this weekend remains unclear, with head coach Kyle Shanahan stating, "
It wasn't broken, so that was a real good sign, but still hurting too much for us to really have an idea how it's going to heal up this week. So we've just got to be patient, see how he feels on Wednesday, and based off of if it's improving, it'll give us a better idea whether he has a chance for the game or not."
Cowherd foresees another defeat for the 49ers if Samuel doesn't suit up against the Lions.
"When you view the Niners, don't we view them as creative and unpredictable and clever? They are with Deebo," Cowherd said. "But I'll argue, when you take Deebo out of the Niners, they're actually a very traditional offense with one deep receiver, an old-school, physical tight end, and a dominant running back.
"Think about this: With Deebo, the Niners win 70 percent of their games. Without Deebo, they're the Raiders, 8-9, with a star receiver, a dominant running back, a really good left tackle, and a quarterback who you don't trust. And a great edge rusher.
"Think I'm joking? What do the Raiders have? Maxx Crosby, Davante Adams, a great left tackle, star running back. ... And the Raiders are in a tougher division, arguably, and a tougher conference.
Christian McCaffrey is the best player. Deebo is the X-factor. Without Deebo, they're 8-9."
The 49ers averaged 31.4 points per game with Samuel in the lineup. In the three games where he was injured, they scored just 17 points in each loss. Cowherd expands those statistics throughout the receiver's career, stating that the 49ers average 27 points per game with Samuel and 24 without him.
"The turnover differential with Deebo? Plus-25," Cowherd continues. "Without Deebo? Minus-eight. That's since Deebo entered the league."
He deduces that Samuel is worth three points by himself. The home-team 49ers are currently a touchdown favorite against the visiting Lions. If Samuel is worth three points, that narrows the spread significantly if he can't play. We'll see if oddsmakers agree, should the ailing wideout fail to practice this week.
Cowherd adds, "I will take the Lions if Deebo does not play. ... When he leaves, they are a [team with] one deep threat, an old-school tight end, and a dominant running back with a great edge rusher. And a quarterback nobody truly trusts if you press him."
Rumors circulated before and during the 2024 NFL Draft about the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers losing one of their top two wide receivers—Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Such a scenario could have significantly impacted the team's success in the upcoming season and posed a potential blow for quarterback Brock Purdy, who has thrived alongside the dynamic duo on the field.
However, none of these speculations came to fruition. Both Aiyuk and Samuel remain on the roster, at least for another season, though their future beyond that remains uncertain.
Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension that would position him among the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. At the same time, Samuel already commands a significant salary following a deal rework in 2022.
Last week, general manager John Lynch acknowledged that trade discussions often occur before and during the draft. Such talks reportedly included discussions about wide receiver Deebo Samuel, particularly after the San Francisco 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 overall pick.
"We're past that now and we're thrilled to add to that group—Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, Danny Gray," Lynch stated. "And now you add Ricky Pearsall, Jake Cowing; I think we made an already strong group even
In a post shared by the official "NFL UK & Ireland" social media account, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel recently hinted at something noteworthy on the horizon.
"Big news coming," Samuel said in the post.
Deebo knows the score 🍿🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/6K7WPaX49y— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) May 7,
Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk were both subjects of trade speculation before and during the draft. While the San Francisco 49ers seem poised to retain both receivers for at least one more season, their long-term futures with the team remain uncertain.
The 49ers seek to sign Aiyuk to a contract extension, which could lead to efforts to offload Samuel's salary as early as next year. However, this remains speculative as the team's brass continues to express support for both players.
RELATED: When the 49ers reportedly ceased entertaining Deebo Samuel trade offers
During a segment on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access," former NFL running back Robert
