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 stronger."
A new report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reveals when Lynch and the 49ers likely stopped considering offers for their versatile wideout.
Fowler wrote, "The 49ers did discuss Deebo Samuel with teams on Day 2 of the draft, but a source said definitively two hours before the second round that San Francisco 'isn't moving him.'"
Trade price for Brandon Aiyuk viewed as too high
Leading up to the draft, before Pearsall was selected, most of the trade speculation revolved around wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. However, the 49ers' asking price reportedly exceeded what teams were willing to offer.
"Multiple teams told me they had interest in Brandon Aiyuk," Fowler shared, "but they believed the 49ers wanted a first-round pick for him, with one comparing the situation to that of A.J. Brown, who went from Tennessee to Philadelphia in 2022 in exchange for the 18th pick. The Eagles then signed him to a four-year, $100 million contract. Trading for Aiyuk would have required a new deal and a premium pick."
San Francisco will likely retain its talented receiver group for at least one more season while adding two promising prospects in rookies Pearsall and Cowing. Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wasserman recently observed, "The 49ers are loaded at wide receiver."