During the Super Bowl LIX festivities, reports broke that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel had requested a trade from the organization. This isn’t the first time he’s expressed a desire to go, but his worth to the squad has lessened, and the sentiment is likely to be mutual.
The Las Vegas Raiders have one good wide receiver, Jakobi Meyers, but the depth behind him is lacking. Given Samuel’s contract predicament, a trade for him is unlikely to yield a significant return for the 49ers.
The Raiders may explore buying low on the former All-Pro. According to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, the 49ers would receive Samuel in exchange for a conditional 2025 third-round pick from Las Vegas.
“Las Vegas has the cap space needed to immediately sign Samuel to an extension, and it could then use the rest of its financial flexibility to other areas, like its offensive line and backfield,” Knox suggested in a column published on Feb. 9.
“It’s worth noting that the Seattle Seahawks were reportedly interested in drafting Samuel back in 2019, per [Adam] Schefter, when Carroll was Seattle’s head coach.”
The Raiders traded Davante Adams to the New York Jets for a third-round pick during the season. If they made this trade, it would be effectively trading Adams for Samuel.
Deebo Samuel Has Not Been a Productive WR
The 49ers may have difficulty finding a suitor for Samuel. While he is a former All-Pro, he has not been particularly prolific as a wide receiver in recent seasons. Since his 1,405 receiving yards in 2021, he hasn’t had more than 892 in three straight seasons.
His ability to make plays in the backfield as a rusher has also reduced. Samuel is currently an average No. 2 wide receiver or a top-tier No. 3 wide receiver. A third-round pick may even be too valuable to deal for him.
One intriguing aspect is that he has an expiring contract. If the Raiders trade for him, they may be better off letting him finish his deal to see if he fits in. Chip Kelly, the offensive coordinator, is a creative playcaller who may be fascinated by Samuel’s versatility.
Raiders Could Be Aggressive Addressing WR
As Knox mentioned, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has expressed interest in Samuel in the past. He knows the wide receiver well from his stint as the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach. Even if the Raiders don’t want Samuel, they are likely to be aggressive in filling the wide receiver position.
Meyers and star tight end Brock Bowers are a nice start, but adding a star wide receiver to the mix may significantly improve the passing game. The Raiders also don’t have a clear path to acquiring a star quarterback this offseason, so they could simply try to assemble the best offensive possible to complement an average passer. Fortunately, the Raiders have lots of salary cap space and should be able to recruit high-end talent players if they choose to.
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