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Deebo Samuel could be the next known wide receiver on the move.
Samuel tells Jeff Darlington from ESPN that he asked the San Francisco 49ers to trade him amid stalled contract extension talks.
Ian Rapport by NFL Network reported that Samuel was unwilling to engage in conversations, in large part because the “root” of his problem isn’t money. The Pro Bowler is reportedly unhappy with the way he’s being used on the 49ers offense.
Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams have already paid off this offseason after being traded to new destinations. The Las Vegas Raiders gave Green Bay a first- and second-round pick for Adams and gave him a five-year, $141.3 million contract.
The Miami Dolphins gave up five draft picks, including 2022 first- and second-rounders, to acquire Hill and sign him on a four-year, $120 million extension.
These deals completely blew up the wide receiver market, which had until then been dominated by DeAndre Hopkins and its annual average of $27.3 million. It’s unclear how much Samuel would seek in a new deal, but it’s almost certain that once the ink dried for Adams and Hill, he saw green.
In terms of usage, Samuel was one of the most used players in the NFL last season. He lined up regularly in the backfield and wideout, recorded 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and carried the ball an additional 59 times for 365 yards. He also scored 14 total touchdowns.
It’s possible that wearing down Samuel’s pseudo running back position isn’t something he signed up for. Running backs typically have much shorter NFL lives than receivers, and those extra hits add up.
That means if the 49ers decide to pay Samuel like the dynamic offensive threat he’s proven to be, things will likely settle down.