As the NFL offseason heats up, the San Francisco 49ers appear ready to part ways with wide receiver Deebo Samuel. However, any potential trade will require a team willing to absorb his hefty contract.
With Samuel reportedly on the trading block, speculation has run rampant, with mock trades surfacing across the league.
One intriguing proposal suggests the 49ers could send Samuel, along with draft capital, to the Las Vegas Raiders, in exchange for star defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Amid ongoing trade talks, reports have emerged regarding Samuel’s conditioning during the 2024 season.
According to The SF Standard’s Tim Kawakami, the 29-year-old receiver was “20 pounds overweight at times” last year.
Despite his reputation as a versatile playmaker, Samuel struggled statistically, posting a career-low 51 receptions for 670 yards and just three touchdowns in 15 games.
While San Francisco appears eager to move him, Samuel himself may have another destination in mind. The star wideout recently stirred speculation by hinting at a preference for the Denver Broncos.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Samuel praised Denver’s roster, suggesting they are just “a player away from being contenders.”
The speculation only intensified when he later posted an image of himself wearing a Broncos jersey on Instagram.
Despite Samuel’s apparent interest, it remains unclear whether Denver has serious plans to pursue him.
Former Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. was quick to shoot down the idea, taking to X to express skepticism. “Deebo to Denver makes zero sense when we already have (Marvin) Mims (Jr.),” he posted.
While Samuel’s fate remains uncertain, another high-profile player could also be on the move.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport have reported that Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby’s future in Las Vegas is “up in the air.”
The 27-year-old is under contract through 2026 but played just 12 games last season, finishing with 45 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 17 tackles for loss.
If the Raiders decide to make a major move, shipping Crosby to San Francisco in exchange for Samuel could be a blockbuster deal that shakes up both teams.
Having said that, the chances of a trade like this actually happening are pretty slim. After all, we know how bad Crosby wants to say with the Raiders.
Regardless, it’s a strong possibility that Samuel is wearing a different uniform next season.
What are your thoughts on the proposed Crosby for Samuel and draft capital trade???
