It was reported on Sunday that S an Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is likely to be traded this offseason , as the 49ers navigate a salary cap crunch and the veteran player enters the final season of his contract. On Monday, it was reported that he is interested in joining the Pittsburgh Steelers .
According to a report by Noah Strackbein of Sports Illustrated , Samuel and his agent Tory Dandy plan to engage the Steelers in discussion about a trade that could bring the star receiver to Pittsburgh.
ESPN reported on Sunday that the 49ers have given Samuel and his agent the go-ahead to seek a trade, and it seems likely that will eventually come to pass.
"It was a hard conversation to have with Kyle because of the relationship that we have," Samuel told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "But I have to do what's best. I'm more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime but now I think it's best that we find another team."
The Steelers are an obvious candidate, having tried and failed to acquire Samuel's teammate Brandon Aiyuk last offseason.
49ers wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel celebrate after a touchdown, Sept. 11, 2023 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers also reportedly asked about Samuel last offseason and were rebuffed by 49ers general manager John Lynch. They had a deal in place to land Aiyuk, but the wide receiver changed his mind at the last minute , deciding to stay in San Francisco on a four-year contract that was essentially the same as the one he had agreed to in Pittsburgh.
When the 49ers signed Aiyuk, they were setting themselves up for a future salary cap crunch, with several pending free agents, including linebacker Dre Greenlaw , defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and cornerback Charvarius Ward , as well as players like Samuel, quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle seeking contract extensions this offseason.
Samuel, 29, also had a down-turn in his production in 2024, likely furthering the 49ers' decision on trading him. In 15 games in 2024, Samuel caught 51 of 81 targets for 670 yard and three touchdowns. His 44.7 yards per game was a career low, as the entire 49ers offense struggled with injuries and a downturn in results, despite being loaded up for a Super Bowl run in 2024.
The 6-foot, 215-pound wide receiver was the 49ers' second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of South Carolina. In his six NFL seasons, he's caught 334 passes for 4,792 yards and 22 touchdowns. His best season came in 2021, when he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns and led the NFL in yards per reception.
Samuel has one season remaining on his contract with the 49ers , and he is due $17.55 million. A trade before June 1 would cause a $31 million dead cap hit for the 49ers in 2025.
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