Deebo Samuel got paid. He didn’t get paid to be a running back. He didn’t even get paid to be the so-called ‘wide back’ he became in the latter portion of last season. He was paid to be a wide receiver, which is what he’ll continue to be for the 49ers.
For all the reporting about Samuel’s unhappiness with his role, the 49ers’ reliance on him as a runner last season was borne out of necessity. It was a unique marriage of team need and a player having a very specific skill set that fit the need.
While the unprecedented rushing production from the wide receiver position is fun – Samuel in the last eight games plus the playoffs had 80 carries for 480 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground – it’s not a model neither he nor the 49ers will want to sustain.
