Is there trouble in paradise between Deebo Samuel and the Niners? Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Deebo Samuel removes pictures, unfollows 49ers on social media

It was back in February when Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray generated controversy by scrubbing his social media accounts of any mention of the team and unfollowing his employer. Murray and the Cardinals are allegedly cool ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft, but a different NFC West club may soon be dealing with its own social-media drama. 

Deebo Samuel had himself a career year during the 2021 regular season and, per ESPN stats, led the San Francisco 49ers with 77 catches, 121 targets and 1,405 receiving yards. Samuel shared the team lead in touchdown receptions with six and also contributed 365 rushing yards and eight additional scores on 59 carries. 

The second-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft is in the final year of his rookie contract and posted an interesting tweet after it was learned Wednesday that Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs was signing a four-year extension reportedly worth $104 million with $70 million in guaranteed money: 

Per Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports and David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, Samuel has unfollowed the 49ers on social media, removed a profile picture that featured him in a San Francisco uniform and deleted dozens of posts from Instagram. 

"I think he's upset, and I think the Niners, they don't give money out," Peter Schrager of NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" told Pat McAfee on Thursday. "[George] Kittle had to wait, and other guys had to wait. Jimmy's (Garoppolo) still on the salary cap right now for $25 million. … [Players are] not getting it when they want it. They're going to get it when the team wants it."

Let the speculation begin. 

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