Potential Landing Spots for Deebo Samuel

Deebo Samuel recently shocked not only the fantasy football world, especially the San Francisco 49ers, and the NFL, when he requested a trade. Samuel is entering the final year of his rookie deal and seemed destined to be the No.1 offensive weapon for the 49ers for many more years. It seems like his reason may be due to the way he was used in the offense and not because of money.

I think Samuel wants to be used more as a traditional wide receiver and less in the run game where he is subject to bigger hits and wear and tear on his body. Which is totally understandable. I am going to discuss several potential landing spots including the potential of him staying in San Francisco as well as a rating on a scale from 1-10 of the likelihood for each team.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers seem like an obvious choice as a team that would be interested in Samuel since trading away Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Currently, their main receivers are Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb, and Amari Rodgers and that trio doesn’t scream exciting or dynamic. At all. However, recent news of the Packers having an interest in Darren Waller could mean that they are not going after Samuel.

I doubt the 49ers would trade Samuel to the Packers as they are one of their biggest competitors in the NFC. If the 49ers do trade Samuel they will try to trade him out of the conference. The Packers’ rating is a (2).

Detroit Lions

The Lions have recently been mentioned as showing potential interest in Samuel. With D. J. Chark and Amon-Ra St. Brown as their top two receivers, it wouldn’t be a surprise for them to be interested in adding to their receiver group, especially considering the injury history of Chark. The Lions definitely have the draft ammo to make a play for Samuel with five draft picks in the first three rounds. Also, Samuel’s big body and ability to be physical seem like the type of player Dan Campbell loves. The Lions’ rating is a (4).

Houston Texans

Could the Texans use Samuel? Most definitely. The Texans signed Brandin Cooks to a two-year extension through 2024, but he is not exactly an alpha wide receiver and the Texans are in desperate need of playmakers. Don’t get me wrong, Cooks is great and is very underrated, but they need more.

Houston has plenty of draft ammo and cap space to make it happen. Adding a receiver like Samuel is a great way to help your young quarterback and the best time to spend a ton of money on a position like wide receiver is when you have a quarterback on a rookie deal. The Texans’ rating is a (5).

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts just missed the playoffs last year and are looking to take that next step and make a run for the Super Bowl. They need another receiver to pair with Michael Pittman because Parris Campbell can’t stay healthy and they don’t have much else at receiver. While they certainly have a need at wide receiver and possibly the cap space to make it work unfortunately they don’t have a first-round draft pick this year and that could make a trade unlikely to happen. The Colts’ rating is a (2).

New York Jets

The Jets already showed that they are in the market for a wide receiver when they supposedly made a play at Tyreek Hill earlier in the off-season. I am sure they are interested in Samuel and will make a trade offer for him. The Jets have four picks in the first thirty-eight picks of the draft and connections to the 49ers. Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur both spent time on the 49ers coaching staff and that could help a deal get done. It also doesn’t hurt that the Jets are in the AFC and if Samuel gets traded I think he is more likely to be traded to an AFC team. I have the Jets with the best chance of landing Samuel with a rating of (8).  

San Francisco 49ers

Even though Samuel requested to be traded the 49ers can refuse to give in and trade him and try to work out a deal with him to stay. The 49ers understand how talented Samuel is and how big of a role he has in the offense. They are looking to turn the offense over to Trey Lance and Samuel would certainly make life easier for Lance so the 49ers are gonna try and do whatever they can to keep Samuel.

Since San Francisco doesn’t pick until the second round at pick No. 61 if they decide to trade Samuel I see them doing it before or during the first round of the draft so that they can take one of the top rookie wide receivers. They were not prepared for replacing Samuel in the draft and Treylon Burks is the only big-name wide receiver visit they had. I give the 49ers a rating of (5).

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