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The drama surrounding Deebo Samuel has died down a bit. Much of that is due to the San Francisco 49ers not granting his trade request ahead of the draft. By not doing so, the team declared that they believe the relationship with their do-everything wideout can be mended.
George Kittle has been making the media rounds today. Of course, among the questions directed toward the All-Pro tight end involves the status of Samuel. After all, it's a storyline that dominated NFL headlines heading into the draft.
"I actually talked to him a few days ago," Kittle said on The Pat McAfee Show. "Yeah, he seemed like he was in a good mood. He was hanging out with his kid, who he just had. ... I didn't ask about his contract, so we were just talking about other things, where he's training at, and we ended up talking about sneakers for a little bit because we both are sneakerheads. So that was our entire conversation, but he seems like he's in a good place.
"I think Deebo knows that this team loves him. We'd love to have him here. If he wants to play somewhere else, hey, it is what it is. It's a business, so I wish him nothing but the best of luck if he goes somewhere else."
Neither the 49ers nor Samuel discussing the reasoning behind the rift led to a lot of speculation from the media. One of the rumored reasons for Samuel's trade request was that the receiver didn't want to be on the West Coast anymore.
Kittle also appeared on The Rich Eisen Show and was asked about that specific rumor.
"The tax rates are a little tough out here," Kittle told Eisen (h/t TheSFNiners). "I totally understand that vibe. I understand it. If Deebo wants to play for the Niners, he'll play for the Niners. If he doesn't, I wish him the best of luck wherever he does [play]. Deebo's a hell of a football player. He's a great human being. So it's whatever he wants to do.
"He's not angry at anybody here on the team. We're not distracted by anything that he's doing. It's his decision. We'd love to have him back. If he doesn't want to, we'll all support him wherever he wants to go."
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It's evident that the San Francisco 49ers engaged in long-term financial planning. Much discussion has centered around the feasibility of the team committing significant financial resources to two wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Some skeptics question the wisdom of such heavy investment in a single position, especially considering that the 49ers handed Samuel a substantial three-year extension merely two years ago.
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With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
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The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
