Another wide receiver seems set to shake up the NFL world. News broke Wednesday that Deebo Samuel wants a trade away from the 49ers. This comes on the heels of Samuel, DK Metcalf, Terry McLaurin and Dionate Johnson all sitting out voluntary offseason workouts in hopes of securing a new contract. Samuel seems to be taking his requests a step further.

The former second-round pick in 2019 has certainly done enough to show he deserves to be paid. After an injury-plagued 2020 season, Samuel posted incredible numbers in his most recent campaign. The 49ers turned him into a hybrid receiver and running back as he totaled 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns. He was recognized with his first Pro Bowl selection and a spot on the AP’s All-Pro first team. 

Needless to say, there will be a few teams interested, even if San Francisco is not inclined to let him leave. Given how the wide receiver market has taken off this offseason, it is going to cost the 49ers or whoever acquires him a lot to keep him. That being said, he is the best wide receiver available right now, including any of the prospects in this draft class. We could very well see teams that we expect to target receivers in the draft focus on acquiring Samuel instead.

Let’s say Samuel gets his wish and the 49ers agree to trade him. Where could he land? Any team that makes an offer will have to part with significant draft capital to make the move. After all, this is a 26-year-old receiver coming off an All-Pro season. Here are a few teams that could be interested and what they might give up to make a deal happen.

New York Jets
Jets receive Deebo Samuel, 2022 5th-round pick (No. 172)
49ers receive two 2022 2nd-round picks (No. 35 & No. 38) and 2023 4th-round pick

One of the obvious suitors for Samuel, New York was in discussions to acquire Tyreek Hill before he landed in Miami. However, Joe Douglas has shown a reluctance to part with significant draft capital to acquire a player he will then have to give a big extension to. Maybe he will feel differently with Samuel being just 26 compared to Hill, who turned 28 in March. The Jets also run a similar system to the 49ers. Mike LaFleur was an assistant under Kyle Shanahan before landing the Jets offensive coordinator job when Robert Saleh was named head coach. 

New York clearly feels it needs to find Zach Wilson more weapons. Will they be willing to sacrifice potentially finding interior offensive line help or a top-tier safety in the second round to do so? That remains to be seen. Their two second-round picks are roughly equivalent to the No. 15 pick based on draft trade value. For San Francisco, this move would allow them to target a long-term replacement at receiver and find some interior offensive line or cornerback help in the early second round.

Green Bay Packers
Packers receive Deebo Samuel, 2022 6th-round pick (No. 221)
49ers receive 2022 1st-round pick (No. 22), 2022 2nd-round pick (No. 59)

Aaron Rodgers lost his favorite receiver this offseason when Davante Adams was traded to the Raiders. The Packers also lost Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. They clearly need receiver help. Green Bay has plenty of draft capital to work with and has a roster that feels close to competing for a championship. While drafting a receiver certainly makes sense, acquiring a veteran receiver ready to contribute and potentially transform the offense right away lines up well with the Packers timeline.

Samuel would definitely be a fit in Green Bay’s offense. Coach Matt LaFleur is a former Kyle Shanahan assistant as well. He will certainly find some creative ways to deploy Samuel that does not involve him playing running back, which is reportedly a source of Samuel’s frustration with the 49ers. The biggest hang ups to getting a deal done will be cap space to sign Samuel and the concept of trading Samuel to an NFC rival. 

Green Bay was willing to hand Adams a huge extension, so I think they will be willing to spend big for Samuel. The bigger issue is the potential to face him in a Packers uniform come the playoffs. These two teams have met in the postseason multiple times in the past few years. The idea of strengthening an NFC rival might not sit will with John Lynch. That being said, the prospect of landing a first-round pick and having another second-round pick. This move would allow San Francisco to address all of its biggest needs by the time it reaches the end of the third round.

Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs receive Deebo Samuel
49ers receive 2022 1st-round pick (No. 30), 2022 2nd-round pick (No. 50)

How about another team that traded away its star receiver this offseason. Kansas City has made moves to restock its receiver room, bringing in JuJu Smith-Schuster and the aforementioned Valdes-Scantling. That being said, this team still lacks a true No. 1 receiver. With the Chiefs not picking until 29th overall, it seems like that the team will need to make a trade to acquire a true No. 1 receiver. If they don’t want to move up in the draft to do so, Samuel could become a clear target.

Andy Reid has a penchant for designing offensive sets that maximize the skill sets of the players at his disposal. I’m sure he would relish the opportunity to work with Samuel. The main issue would be cap space. Kansas City does not have much wiggle room and a big reason for trading away Hill was because the team was unable to give him the type of money he eventually got in Miami. That could take Kansas City out of this deal altogether. 

It would definitely take some very creative massaging of the cap to make this move happen. That being said, I expect the Chiefs to at least call about Samuel. With Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, this has to be a destination Samuel would be interested in. On top of that, Kansas City would still have picks in the first two rounds to address needs at corner and edge rusher.

New Orleans Saints
Saints receive Deebo Samuel, 2023 4th-round pick
49ers receive 2022 1st-round pick (No. 16), 2022 3rd-round pick (No. 98)

The Saints made a big move to acquire more draft capital this season. It is a bit unclear how they plan to spend it. Moving up to take a quarterback is certainly in play, but I think they are committed to Winston for 2022. Instead, they could use one of their first round picks to land Samuel. Michael Thomas should finally be healthy, but he needs a running mate. Samuel would give New Orleans one of the best receiver duos in the league. 

Making this move also still leaves the Saints with a first-round pick to target an offensive tackle. If New Orleans is going all in on building this team to contend this season, might as well swing for the fences. Cap space once again becomes an issue for a team that was over the cap at the beginning of the offseason. That being said, Spotrac has the Saints at $19 million under the cap. They would find a way to make it work.

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