AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
With two of the top 13 picks in the 2022 NFL draft, the Houston Texans could make a splash in the trade market ahead of the event, which begins April 28 in Las Vegas.
Pro The Athletic Tim Kawakami, The Texans are a “team to watch” amid rumors that Deebo Samuel wants to be traded from the San Francisco 49ers.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported on Wednesday that Samuel has asked the 49ers for a trade.
The offseason saga between Samuel and the 49ers was unusual, to say the least. Earlier this month, he deleted virtually every mention of the team from his Instagram page.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Tuesday’s episode of NFL Live (with SI.com’s Wilton Jackson) that the 49ers were “ready” to pay Samuel what he wanted in a new contract.
“Deebo Samuel is the one who stopped everything for now,” Schefter added.
Darlington noted that Samuel gave no details as to why he was requesting a trade.
San Francisco general manager John Lynch told reporters in February that the team had renewals planned for Samuel and Nick Bosa, who are also eligible to sign long-term deals this offseason.
The market for wide receivers has changed significantly since Lynch’s comments. Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill signed the richest receiver deals in NFL history after being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins, respectively.
Samuel has been an integral part of the 49ers offense since he was drafted second round in 2019. The 26-year-old led the NFL in 2021 with 18.2 yards per reception. He also had career-best yards for 1,405 receiving yards and 365 rushing yards, and 14 total touchdowns.
The Texans own picks #3 and 13 in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. They also have several first-round picks in 2023 and 2024, stemming from Deshaun Watson’s trade with the Cleveland Browns in March.