Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Unsurprisingly,
Deebo Samuel didn't want to discuss his offseason drama with the San Francisco 49ers during his Wednesday interview on 95.7 The Game. Instead, the wide receiver deflected those questions and any discussion surrounding the 49ers' next opponent, the Carolina Panthers, with "No comment."
"He answered as little as possible, in as few words as possible," Ray Ratto commented after the conversation.
"Awkward radio is good radio," Damon Bruce added. "... I don't think he likes anyone in media. I don't think he likes talking to media."
Samuel was willing to answer some questions, though. He didn't offer lengthy responses to most of those questions, but they were responses. Bruce asked Samuel why there aren't more players around the league who can do what he can, catching and running the football as a dual-threat.
"There's not another guy in this league that has the mentality and the mindset that I have whenever the ball's in my hands," Samuel responded. "We've got a lot of great guys with the ball in their hands. Everybody has their own mentality, but my mindset and mentality that I go out there with week in and week out, I think it's just unmatched."
The Los Angeles Rams may have lost Monday night's bout with the 49ers, but wide receiver Cooper Kupp had himself a night. He racked up a career-high 14 catches for 122 receiving yards on 19 targets during his team's 24-9 loss. Does Samuel ever get jealous seeing his peers accumulate gaudy stats like that?
"Nah, no jealousy at all," Samuel answered. "We handle what we handle in our building. That's all we care about."
Ratto wanted to know about Samuel's usage this season. Does the wide receiver feel it's different from what the 49ers asked of him last year?
"I think it's the same thing that I was just doing last year," Samuel said. "... Screens, all types of ways getting in the backfield, I just think it's all just the same."
Samuel had an opportunity to respond to Jerry Rice's praise from earlier in the week. The Hall of Fame receiver was flooded with memories after watching Samuel's touchdown run against the Rams.
Rice said, "
For Deebo to make that catch the way he did, then to have the vision to take it to the end zone, it brought back a lot of memories because I'm saying to myself he made some cuts that reminded me of someone else back in the day."
Samuel responded: "That's a blessing [hearing Rice talk about me like that]. [Jerry and I] always communicate all the time whenever we get the chance. It's just great to hear something like that coming from [a] great."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Samuel below.
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.
Adding complexity to this debate is the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, positioning him to become the highest-paid player on the team. He will likely even become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Where he ranks in average salary will depend upon whether he can replicate the stellar performance of his Pro Bowl 2023
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.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
