The San Francisco 49ers have opened the offseason with a blockbuster trade, sending star wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders, according to multiple reports.
Samuel heads to the capital to link up with rising star quarterback Jayden Daniels in exchange for draft compensation.
The wideout, who is due $21.7million this year, will also join former San Francisco exec Adam Peters.
Samuel requested a trade away from the team in his end-of-season meeting with head coach Kyle Shanahan, which 49ers GM John Lynch said the organization would ‘honor’ at the NFL combine earlier this week.
‘It was a hard conversation to have with Kyle because of the relationship that we have,’ Samuel said of his decision to demand a trade. ‘But I have to do what’s best.
‘I’m more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime but now I think it’s best that we find another team.’
The San Francisco 49ers are set to trade Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders
Samuel requested a trade in his end-of-season meeting with head coach Kyle Shanahan
The receiver heads to the capital to link up with rising star quarterback Jayden Daniels
The Niners began preparing for the possibility of Samuel’s exit from the Bay Area last offseason when the team drafted receiver Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 pick, according to Adam Schefter.
The franchise had also signed two other pass catchers, Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk, to contract extensions.
It isn’t the first time the Niners have considered moving on from Samuel.
Samuel demanded a trade back in 2022 in the midst of a contract dispute, but he ultimately signed a three-year deal. The Niners also listened to offers for both Samuel and Aiyuk while the latter receiver was also looking for a new deal.
Samuel, the 36th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has totaled 4,792 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns across his career.
He was named a first-team All-Pro receiver in the 2021 season when he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns.
But since then, Samuel hasn’t caught more than 900 yards in a season.
The receiver is coming off a relative slump this past season, registering 51 catches, 670 yards, and three touchdowns.
Despite this, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans had been floated as potential landing spots for Samuel in addition to Washington.
However, it was Dan Quinn and the Commanders who acquired the new weapon for Daniels.