Veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel still believes he’s got good football left in him. But, according to at least one 49ers insider, his old San Francisco 49ers team doesn’t see a need to find out.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco laid out why he doesn’t expect a reunion between Samuel and the 49ers, starting with the fact that San Francisco has already rebuilt its receiver room without him.
“As I see it right now, I don’t think that the 49ers need to be or are in the running or considering signing a veteran wide receiver,” Maiocco said. “They already have Mike Evans. They signed him to a three-year $42 million contract… 49ers also signed to a lower contract — one year, three million — Christian Kirk.”
You tack on top of those two recent first-round draft picks of the 49ers. Ricky Pearsall, he is entering year three of a four-year 12.5 million contract. And then the 49ers invested the 33rd overall pick in this last draft in De’Zhaun Stribling. I just don’t think the 49ers have a need at wide receiver.”
Maiocco noted Samuel did have interest in returning after a trade sent him to the Washington Commanders in 2025, and that he and head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke after the 49ers moved on this offseason. But Maiocco sees little chance a reunion actually happens, pointing back to the trade request that ended Samuel’s first stint in San Francisco.
“Samuel requested a trade. 49ers thought, ‘Yep, you know what, it’s run its course. You know, time has a way of having teams and players drift apart.’ And that’s where it was,” Maiocco said. “And so, it would be kind of interesting after a year to say, ‘Ah, you know what, let’s get back together.’ So, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
The numbers add a layer to that skepticism. Samuel turns 31 in January, is coming off a Washington season limited by injuries that held him to 727 yards on 72 catches, and has battled injuries in three of his last four seasons.
Samuel, for his part, has said he’s not close to done. On his YouTube channel, he estimated he has three or four good years left and said he’s staying ready for the right opportunity. But based on Maiocco’s read of the 49ers roster, that opportunity likely isn’t waiting in Santa Clara.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers insider doesn’t think team will pursue Deebo Samuel
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
