Enjoy a season as Deebo Samuel did in 2021, and you’ll view yourself as an elite player. A reigning First-Team All-Pro, Samuel understandably wanted a new deal from the 49ers this offseason.
When San Francisco initially didn’t want to pony up the dough for their franchise player, he reportedly wanted a trade. But as receiver after receiver after receiver got a new deal, and Samuel himself didn’t practice as the 49ers opened camp, San Francisco had no choice.
The Trey Lance era was about to begin, and the second-year quarterback wouldn’t have his best weapon? How silly would that be?
On Sunday night, the 49ers finally relented by giving Samuel the deal he wanted. And rightly so:
The #49ers and star weapon Deebo Samuel worked for months and get it done. He lands a huge deal — 3 year extension worth $73.5M max and $71.55M total. The guarantee is $58.1M. He’ll be 29 years old entering the last year of his deal with the potential for another massive one.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 31, 2022
Ah, a player ending their “hold-in” the moment they get the financial security and the terms they’re seeking. Why it’s almost as if it was this easy for the 49ers and Samuel the entire time!
I can’t help but keep thinking about Samuel’s short three-year term. In fact, his contract is roughly identical to his peer DK Metcalf. Both young playmakers received upwards of $70 million, around 80 percent of their contracts are guaranteed, and they will be free agents again by their late 20s.
Two conclusions:
- They were clearly negotiated in tandem.
- It’s obvious, with other three to four-year deals for Terry McLaurin and A.J. Brown factored in, that receivers are being empowered more than ever.
Given the punishing nature of the sport, NFL players infamously have very little leverage when negotiating new contracts. But if elite studs like Samuel, Metcalf, McLaurin, and Brown are starting to get their teams to agree to shorter terms with even more money promised up front, then maybe things are changing for the better. At least for receivers, that is. The long-term influence this has on the league remains to be seen, but it’s undoubtedly a more agreeable positive development in the near term for stars.
As for the 26-year-old Samuel, he’ll now call the Bay Area home through most of the rest of his 20s. He’ll get to work with a promising if raw young quarterback like Lance. And, judging by past precedent, San Francisco may be an NFC heavyweight that entire time as their offense essentially runs through the multifaceted abilities of both players. Aside from having impeccable offensive book-ends, that versatility will make the 49ers most dangerous — versatility meaning Lance’s mobility and Samuel’s flexibility.
There was a lot of debate over the past few months whether the way San Francisco utilized Samuel as an excellent receiver/running back hybrid was sustainable. Honestly, it still might not be, even as the idea spreads across the league.
But it seems Samuel is okay with however he’s deployed on offense now. If he continues to touch the ball over 130 times a year in the coming seasons, so be it. He’ll be a free agent in three seasons, be just 29 years old, and probably still have a ton of prime football left. If he wants to leave the 49ers then and sign a massive contract elsewhere, that option will probably be available to him. What happens to him between now and then is an ancillary thought altogether.
Samuel and the 49ers will cross that Golden Gate Bridge when they get to it.
