San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch confirmed Wednesday that the team plans to honor Deebo Samuel's request to play elsewhere in 2025. Whether that comes via trade or release remains uncertain.
"Hopefully, we find a great place," Lynch said. "Then we'll have to make a decision if we don't. But I can say there's been a lot of interest around the league."
One potential suitor could be the Houston Texans. Head coach DeMeco Ryans praised Samuel as an "impact player," saying he was "definitely interested in him."
DraftKings Sportsbook currently lists the 49ers as the favorite for Samuel's services next season, followed by the Washington Commanders, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Denver Broncos.
Despite speculation linking Samuel to Denver, providing young quarterback Bo Nix with another offensive weapon, the Broncos are reportedly not interested in the veteran wideout.
"Indications at the combine have been that the Broncos are not interested in acquiring Samuel, 29, who would command a big contract in a deal," wrote Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.
Samuel is coming off a disappointing season, recording just 806 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns—his lowest output since an injury-plagued 2020 campaign. He has surpassed 900 receiving yards only once in his career, back in 2021.
If the 49ers cannot find a trade partner and struggle to navigate the financial hurdles of moving Samuel before June 1, they may opt to release him with a post-June 1 designation to mitigate the salary cap impact.