49ers reportedly 'trying to get something done' with Deebo Samuel contract

Deebo Samuel served as the offensive most valuable player for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2021 NFL season and accumulated 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards, and 14 total touchdowns. Samuel is in the final year of his rookie contract and understandably wants a pay raise after watching receivers such as Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs put pen to paper on big deals following the start of the new NFL year. 

The expectation is that the 49ers will eventually make Samuel a happy man this spring or summer with a deal that matches his on-the-field value. According to David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, NFL Network's Steve Wyche reported on Tuesday that the organization is working on locking Samuel down beyond the 2022 campaign. 

"The 49ers—I spoke with someone there—they've been in contact with the agent; they're trying to get something done," Wyche explained. "But this could be a long spring and summer before they get a contract done with the numbers that we've seen in that exploding wide receiver market."

Interestingly, Jim Trotter of NFL Network added that the 49ers could potentially look to trade Samuel if they are offered at least one first-round draft pick for his services, which matches a previous report on the subject. It's unclear if any team would meet that asking price before the draft gets underway on April 28, but logic suggests San Francisco would like 2021 rookie and presumed QB1 Trey Lance to have Samuel as a weapon later this year.