Is Deebo Samuel's future role with the 49ers playing any part in the state of his contract negotiations with the team? Based on comments from head coach Kyle Shanahan, that doesn't seem to be the case.
Shanahan was asked in his pre-practice press conference on Saturday if Samuel's role in 2022 needed to be spelled out in order for contract negotiations to move forward. Shanahan responded by suggesting that he and Samuel have an understanding on that front and that everything is positive between him and the standout wide receiver outside of where things stand with his contract.
"Deebo and I talk a lot," Shanahan said before Saturday's practice. "We're good, and we understand our role. I know there's a lot of noise for five months and tweets and a lot of people are repeating what someone said, repeating and repeating and repeating. There's a lot of negotiations going on. There's a lot of money involved. It's a big business deal. But besides everything else, we're good."
The 49ers and Samuel are coming off a long offseason of reports, rumors and hearsay regarding his contract after he stated his desire to be traded from the team back in the spring. A popular topic of conversation during that time was whether or not Samuel had any problems with being frequently used as a running back like the 49ers did with him over the second half of the 2021 season and if he was looking for assurances the team wouldn't do the same in the future. Samuel is currently with the 49ers as his contract negotiations continue but has been working off to the side instead of participating in team drills.
"I haven't seen any of it, just because I'm working at the time," Shanahan said on Friday. "I know conditioning is the most important part, but I'm sure he is catching balls."
Samuel, 26, is in his fourth season with the 49ers and is in the final year of his rookie contract. Samuel is coming off an All-Pro season that saw him catch 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns with 59 carries for 365 yards and eight touchdowns.