With George Kittle seriously injured, and Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk nearing an exit in San Fransico, the 49ers will be forced to search for wide receiver talent this offseason. As free agency approaches, the organization is expected to sign a familiar face to bring stability to its WR room.
49ers Expected to Reunite with Former All-Pro WR
On Tuesday, March 3, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay published an article outlining potential destinations for the top free agent wide receivers. Beginning with Deebo Samuel, Kay predicted the veteran WR to land with none other than his former franchise, the San Fransico 49ers.
He wrote: “There may be no better option than returning to the San Francisco 49ers, the team that unearthed Samuel in the 2019 draft and helped develop him into one of the game’s most dangerous weapons.”
Kay later added, “Although he’s on the wrong side of 30 years old and coming off back-to-back seasons in which he failed to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards, Samuel still profiles as a high-usage rusher and receiver for a team like San Francisco, a club that needs him far more now than it did when it traded him for a fifth-round pick last March.”
This past season with the Commanders, Samuel posted a 77.2 WR Impact Score, ranking 34th among all receivers. Comparatively, in 2021, during his best season with the 49ers, he posted a 92.7 WR Impact Score, placing 3rd, according to PFSN’s Wide Receiver Impact metric.
Although Samuel is well past his prime and no longer his 2021 All-Pro self, Kyle Shanahan’s offense is desperate for WR talent. As Kay noted, the team is “set to move on from Brandon Aiyuk and looking likely to lose Jauan Jennings in free agency.”
Additionally, Kittle, unfortunately, tore his Achilles tendon during the postseason and may very well miss the early portion of next season. Meanwhile, reigning Comeback Player of the Year, Christian McCaffrey, is fresh off a 400+ touch season, and heading into year 10 next fall, the 49ers could be more cautious with his workload.
All things considered, Samuel is exactly the type of player the 49ers need. His ability to operate at a high level in both the rushing and receiving game would help San Francisco address multiple needs at once.
If the 48-TD WR still has something left in the tank, this signing could significantly benefit both him and the 49ers as they look to compete for a Super Bowl in 2026.
