49ers reportedly want 'king's ransom' for Deebo Samuel
Just one day after ESPN's Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell of a report and explained that All-Pro versatile offensive weapon Deebo Samuel "wanted to move on" and didn't wish "to get a deal done" with the San Francisco 49ers this spring, Samuel told Jeff Darlington of ESPN he wants his employer to trade him.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Nick Shook) later reported that Samuel, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, "is uncomfortable with how he was used in Kyle Shanahan's offense in 2021" and has "become disinterested in engaging on long-term contract extension talks" after he accumulated 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this past regular season.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, individuals associated with the New York Jets "currently" believe the 49ers won't trade Samuel unless they receive a "king's ransom" in return for the 26-year-old:
Last week, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic wrote that the 49ers could look to trade Samuel before the upcoming NFL Draft begins on the night of April 28 "for a package that would include a first-round pick in this draft that the 49ers would immediately use on a WR" if they weren't prepared to show him the money.
However, Rapoport's update suggests Samuel either simply wants out or won't sign any extension with the 49ers unless he's promised he'll feature only as a receiver and not out of the backfield moving forward.
If the 49ers don't trade Samuel before the first round of this year's player-selection process ends on the final Thursday of the month, things between the two could quickly turn ugly.
More must-reads: