Deebo Samuel next NFL team odds: Jets, Eagles, Colts, Saints, Texans favorites to trade for 49ers All-Pro receiver
49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel has asked for a trade.
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In an offseason where we've already seen superstar wideouts Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill demand trades from Super Bowl contenders and get their wish, there's a similar scenario brewing in the San Francisco area as maybe the most unique receiver in the league, 49ers All-Pro Deebo Samuel, wants out. SportsLine offers NFL odds on his next team if the Niners do deal him.
Adams and Hill both "broke the market" in terms of rich new contracts given to wideouts and Samuel now wants his cash as he's in the final year of his rookie deal that would pay him only around $4 million this season. Because Samuel was a second-round pick in the 2019 draft and not a first-rounder, there is no fifth-year rookie option for the Niners to exercise. Samuel can become an unrestricted free agent next winter.
Is Samuel as good a receiver as Adams or Hill? No, but last season Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six TDs on a run-heavy team … and he rushed 59 times for 365 yards and eight scores. Samuel became the third player in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards, five receiving TDs and five rushing TDs in the same season, joining running backs Marshall Faulk (1999) and Roger Craig (1985). That Samuel can also basically play running back of sorts makes him different from Adams and Hill.
ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported today that Samuel officially has asked the Niners for a trade, while NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that money isn't the only issue for Samuel – the Niners are willing to make a big offer – but also issues with how he's used. Note that last year's Niners OC, Mike McDaniel, left the 49ers to coach the Dolphins.
Samuel surely wants to go to a more pass-centric offense: Since he was drafted, Samuel has played for the No. 2 most run-heavy offense and No. 2 lowest target depth offense in the NFL yet ranks No. 1 in average yards after the catch (9.8) and No. 1 in average yards after contact per rush (4.6.)
Any list of teams trading for Samuel has to start with the New York Jets, who are desperate for a No. 1 wideout and offered the Chiefs a better trade package for Hill than the Miami Dolphins did, but Hill wanted to go home to south Florida. There is a big Niners connection in New York as former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is the head coach and former 49ers passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur the offensive coordinator. The Jets have the No. 4 and No. 10 pick in this year's draft.
The Philadelphia Eagles have three first-round picks in this year's draft and putting Samuel next to DeVonta Smith could work wonders for inconsistent QB Jalen Hurts.
Indianapolis has a Super Bowl-caliber roster and upgraded at quarterback with Matt Ryan. Does Indy really have a No. 1 wideout? Houston could help kick-start its rebuild by trading for Samuel. There is chatter the Texans would be willing to deal the No. 13 pick (acquired in Deshaun Watson trade) in this year's draft for Samuel.
New Orleans now has two first-round picks to help in a potential Samuel trade and has little at wideout behind Michael Thomas, who is no sure thing after missing the 2021 season. And we can never rule out New England despite already trading for DeVante Parker.
Go ahead and rule out the other three NFC West teams because the Niners aren't dealing Samuel to any of those clubs even if interested.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will Deebo Samuel be playing for Week 1 if not the 49ers?
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