There appears to be an easing of tensions between the 49ers and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Despite evidence that the chasm between the two sides is closing, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Sunday reported Samuel’s trade request is still on the table.
“Mentioned on @SportsCenter this AM that there’s been no official rescission of the trade request, at least that I’m aware of,” Fowler wrote on Twitter. “But he did show up for minicamp, which is a positive, and there’s not a lot of league-wide chatter about a potential trade right now.”
Given that Samuel hasn’t hashed out a contract extension yet it’s not a huge surprise he hasn’t officially rescinded his trade request.
However, a lack of interest on the trade market was apparent during the draft when no overwhelming offers came in for San Francisco while other receivers were being traded for first-round picks. The 49ers would likely be even less inclined now to deal their All-Pro wide receiver. Any trade would have to include a piece that can help San Francisco this year. Future picks won’t cut it.
That leaves Samuel with three options, which tight end George Kittle laid out on a podcast appearance. Samuel can either hold out for the year, miss a season’s worth of checks and then miss out on unrestricted free agency next offseason since he didn’t accrue a fourth season. Or he can play this year on his rookie deal, cash those game checks, then exit as an unrestricted free agent next offseason. Or he can work out an extension.
Maybe the trade request is real. Maybe it’s continued posturing by Samuel as he tries to squeeze every dollar out of his first big extension. Right now there are more signs pointing to the two sides coming together than there are pointing to them drifting apart. We’ll find out more as training camp draws closer.
