49ers grant Deebo Samuel permission to seek trade

The San Francisco 49ers have granted wide receiver Deebo Samuel permission to seek a trade, following his request during the players' exit meetings after the 2024 season. Samuel expressed gratitude for his time with the team but indicated that it is best for him to explore opportunities elsewhere. His production declined in 2024, recording only 51 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns, which raises questions about his trade value. The 49ers' decision to allow Samuel to pursue a trade comes amid the team's recent contracts for other wide receivers, including Brandon Aiyuk, and the draft addition of Ricky Pearsall. Samuel, a versatile player known for his significant contributions over the past five seasons, has not played a full season and is scheduled to make $17.55 million in 2025. The trade market for Samuel could be competitive, given his unique skill set, despite recent performance concerns.