Well, I guess Deebo Samuel didn’t actually want out of San Francsico after all. The star wide receiver has just agreed to a new $72M deal that will keep him the Bay Area for the next three years.
This is massive news for the 49ers. With Trey Lance being named the new starting QB by head coach Kyle Shanahan, convincing Deebo Samuel to not only end his holdout and play this season, but also lock him down for another three years will be massive for Lance’s development.
Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and George Kittle are all great receiving options, but Deebo Samuel just brings that “special something” to this San Francisco 49ers offense. His unique ability to perform as not only a Pro-Bowl caliber wide receiver, but also as a Prob-Bowl Caliber running back is unmatched by any other receiver in the NFL.
To be honest, I can’t think of many other players, to this degree (maybe apart from a healthy Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara), that can produce a Pro Bowl caliber output at two offensive positions.
Yet, the 49ers nearly lost out on Samuel’s unique talent as it seemed the wide receiver was set on leaving San Francisco. Supposedly, some reports said that Samuel had enough of being used as a running back and was done with Kyle Shanahan’s offensive schemes. I guess he must have changed his mind.
Regardless, whether the new $72M raise or a promise to limit his snaps as the primary running back convinced Deebo to return is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is that Deebo has returned and is staying.
Keeping Deebo Samuel on this receiving core keeps this group as one of the Top-5 in the NFL. Plus, if everyone stays healthy, this should boost them to win the NFC West division over the reigning Super Bowl Champions, Los Angeles Rams, even with rookie QB Trey Lance taking the starting role.
As for where this leads the 49ers in the future, getting rid of Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract is a must now.
The now-back-up quarterback is set to earn a team-high $27M this upcoming season, which puts an equivalent cap hit on the San Francisco 49ers’ 2022 salary cap. With Deebo’s $24M/season extension starting next season, the 49ers are going to be well over the cap in 2023. Which is bad new as they have to resign CB Jimmy Ward and OT Mike McGlinchey in 2023.
Thankfully, this situation should resolve itself as Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract also expires in 2023. But it is better if the 49ers move his contract to clear up some cap flexibility now and to add some more depth pieces.
The 49ers GM John Lynch has proven once again why he should be considered in the upper echelons of the NFL GMs with this Deebo Samuel resigning. He has brought back one of the Top-10 best wide receivers in the NFL for another three seasons at only $24M/season (only 7th highest salary hit among WRs in the NFL). Pretty impressive if you ask me.
Images Source: Featured Images:
