Samuel requested a trade in January, and the 49ers permitted him to explore options. While financial hurdles remain in facilitating a trade, Lynch confirmed that the team intends to honor Samuel's request to play elsewhere.
"We're on good terms with Deebo," Lynch said. "He's asked for a fresh start, and I think we're going to honor that. I don't like seeing great players [leave], and he is a great player. He's, I think, often, one of my favorite draft picks in my time. This guy's just a—he makes plays, and he makes game-changing plays."
Samuel is coming off one of his most disappointing seasons, recording 806 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns—both career lows, excluding his injury-plagued 2020 campaign. Samuel has failed to surpass 900 receiving yards in five of his six NFL seasons.
"Everything's good, but I think at some point, time happens, and he asked for that," Lynch said. "There's contracts and things, but it probably makes sense, so we're at least allowing him to look, and we're having conversations. We'll see where that goes."
Lynch emphasized that situations like these can be challenging.
"There's a lot of love there," Lynch said. "There's a lot of respect there. There's a lot of shared experiences. So to let that go, that's difficult. But, like I said, time happens, and if it makes sense for both sides, you at least give it a chance, and so that's where we're at."
If the 49ers cannot trade Samuel, they will likely release the wide receiver with a post-June 1 designation to minimize the salary cap impact of his departure.
"Hopefully, we find a great place," Lynch added. "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."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' George Kittle is PFF's top TE — but can he return to form?
When it comes to elite NFL tight ends, George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers still sets the standard. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Kittle was the highest-graded tight end in 2025, earning a stellar 90.7 offensive grade. Even in an injury-shortened campaign, the... -
Will the 49ers draft a WR in Round 1? Two mocks address the same need
The San Francisco 49ers could take several paths with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Help in the trenches—both on the offensive and defensive lines—remains a priority. The secondary could also use reinforcements. There's even a scenario in which the 49ers add... -
Barnwell proposes Mac Jones trade the 49ers might not be able to refuse
The San Francisco 49ers have consistently maintained that Mac Jones remains part of their plans for the 2026 NFL season. The veteran quarterback signed a two-year deal last offseason, keeping him under contract through 2026 and out of free agency until 2027. That means any... -
Where 49ers QB Brock Purdy landed in PFF's top 101 players of 2025
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy appeared in just nine games during the 2025 NFL season, missing eight contests due to a turf toe injury suffered in Week 1. Still, the former final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft did more than enough to earn recognition from Pro Football...