Another NFC West wide receiver could be on the move during the offseason.
The San Francisco 49ers have granted wide receiver Deebo Samuel permission to seek a trade, a person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The 49ers’ decision to grant Samuel permission to find a trade partner comes after the wideout asked San Francisco to trade him during the team’s exit meeting.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the story.
The news comes less than a week after wide receiver Cooper Kupp announced on social media that the Los Angeles Rams are going to try to trade him during the offseason.
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San Francisco drafted Samuel in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.
The versatile wideout is known for his ability to make plays with the football, whether it’s catching passes or running with the football out of the backfield.
Samuel has 334 receptions, 4,792 receiving yards, 22 touchdown catches, 1,143 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in six seasons in a 49ers uniform.
Samuel’s best year came in 2021 when he tallied career highs in catches (77), receiving yards (1,405), rushing yards (365), rushing touchdowns (8) and yards from scrimmage (1,770). He was named a first-team All-Pro for his 2021 performance.
However, Samuel’s numbers declined in 2024 during a disappointing year for the entire 49ers franchise. The 49ers finished the regular season 6-11 and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season.