The San Francisco 49ers find themselves in a dilemma regarding their wide receiver lineup, particularly with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. Before the draft, speculation was rife about the 49ers potentially trading Aiyuk. However, Deebo Samuel’s name also surfaced as a trade candidate. The Pittsburgh Steelers showed interest in Deebo, but the 49ers’ demands were reportedly too high for the Steelers to meet.
Currently, Brandon Aiyuk has formally requested a trade, which complicates matters further for the 49ers. One solution to this predicament could involve trading Deebo Samuel and committing to Brandon Aiyuk as the team’s primary wide receiver.
Looking at last season’s performance, Aiyuk emerged as the team’s standout receiver. Despite having 105 targets in 16 regular-season games compared to Deebo’s 89 targets in 15 games, Aiyuk was more productive. He amassed 75 receptions for 1,342 yards, while Deebo had 60 receptions for 892 yards. Although Deebo’s versatility as a receiver and runner contributed to his value in the past, his rushing attempts were limited to 37 carries in 2024.
Deebo Samuel’s contract situation also plays a significant role in this decision. After a contentious negotiation period where he demanded a trade and seemed unwilling to play for the 49ers again, Deebo eventually signed a three-year, $71.55 million extension, with an average annual salary of $23.85 million. For the 2024 season, his salary stands at $20.972 million. Trading Samuel would incur a cap hit of $6.65 million this year and $15.143 million next year. If the trade had occurred before the draft, the cap hit for this year would have been a hefty $21.793 million.
The 49ers could opt to trade Deebo, thereby freeing up resources to pay Aiyuk and potentially relying on rookie Ricky Pearsall and others to fill the gap left by Deebo. Alternatively, they might consider trading Aiyuk and addressing his void in a similar manner. A third option would be to take a firm stance with Aiyuk, hoping he eventually agrees to play and continues his impressive performance from the previous season.
In a broader NFC West context, the 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks have been in fierce competition. The Seahawks, in particular, have been at a relative talent disadvantage in recent years, securing only one division title in the last seven seasons. The Rams and 49ers have each won the NFC West crown three times during this period.
Imagining a scenario where the Seahawks could poach talent from their division rivals without worrying about salary caps, several names stand out. Christian McCaffrey, who has been a significant asset for the 49ers since joining them in 2022, would be a popular choice. Trey McBride of the Cardinals shows potential as a future star tight end and might be more appealing than the older George Kittle. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk also come to mind as desirable additions for their offensive prowess. On the defensive front, Fred Warner of the 49ers is considered one of the top linebackers in the league, and Rams’ defensive tackle Kobie Turner appears to be a promising talent. Cardinals’ safety Budda Baker remains a high-caliber player, and the prospect of him teaming up with DK Metcalf in practice is intriguing.
Ultimately, the 49ers’ decision regarding Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk will significantly impact their offensive strategy and cap space management. Whether they choose to trade one of them or find another solution, the outcome will shape the team’s future trajectory in the highly competitive NFC West.
