Deebo Samuel has turned up the heat.
As chatter has ramped up that Samuel may not want to spend next season with the 49ers, the wide receiver confirmed that’s the case when he spoke to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington on Wednesday morning. He told Darlington that he’s informed the 49ers he wants to be traded.
This is quite a shock after a career year for Samuel, who gained 1,405 yards as a receiver and scored eight touchdowns as a runner, an NFL record for a WR. Samuel is in the final year of his rookie deal and wants an extension, but it would appear that the type of contract he is seeking is not in the same ballpark as what the 49ers are offering.
Or, perhaps that’s not the case. According to Ian Rapoport, Samuel’s desire to leave San Francisco isn’t about money, but rather about how he’s been used in the offense. The 49ers have been trying to engage with the WR on a new contract but he has been unwilling.
Samuel was basically used as a hybrid running back / wide receiver in Kyle Shanahan’s offense during the second half of the season, a move which took advantage of his unique skillset. This report would indicate that Samuel is no longer interested in running the ball, perhaps because doing some leaves him far more susceptible to injury.
Regarding trade destinations, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic believes the Houston Texans are a team to watch out for.