Now that the San Francisco 49ers have finally taken care of Brandon Aiyuk’s contract situation, expect fellow All-Pro wideout Deebo Samuel to pop up more in trade rumors.
Like the Deebo Samuel citation two years ago, Aiyuk requested a trade from the 49ers last month after a lack of progress on contract extension talks. But the 49ers finally found middle ground with the 26-year-old, who agreed to a lucrative four-year deal worth $120 million.
In 2022, Samuel himself requested a trade before ultimately signing a three-year extension worth $71.55 million. But the work for GM John Lynch is far from over, as All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams continues his holdout in search of a new deal.
In addition, the 49ers will have to pay quarterback Brock Purdy before his rookie deal expires in 2026. So with Lynch needing to clear cap space at some point, don’t be surprised if Deebo Samuel becomes available via trade.
If that happens, Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan should aggressively pursue a deal for Samuel after falling short in the Aiyuk sweepstakes.
The Steelers need another wide receiver after trading Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. George Pickens is the only proven play-making wideout on Pittsburgh’s roster, hence their pursuit of Aiyuk.
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The Steelers have a rising star in Pickens, a quality tight end in Pat Freiermuth and two potential 1,000-yard rushers in Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris.
But if the Steelers realistically hope to contend for a Super Bowl with a Russell Wilson-Justin Fields QB duo, they should try to make a move for a big-time offensive weapon like Deebo Samuel.
What Steelers Should Offer 49ers For Deebo Samuel
Pittsburgh should offer San Francisco a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round selection for the All-Pro receiver. Fo the 49ers, the deal is largely about opening up cap space and creating room for 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall to step in and produce.
Per OvertheCap.com, trading Samuel would save San Francisco $22 million against the cap for 2024 and $17.568 million in 2025. With Christian McAffrey, George Kittle, Aiyuk and Pearsall already at Brock Purdy’s disposal, the 49ers would be well-equipped to get by on offense without Samuel, who would surely embrace a more impactful role in Pittsburgh.
