49ers general manager John Lynch recently said the team would 'honor' Samuel's trade request
The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly reached an agreement on the first major trade of the NFL offseason. According to ESPN, All-Pro Deebo Samuel will head east and play for the Washington Commanders in 2025.
The 49ers are expected to receive a fifth-round draft pick in exchange for the star wide receiver, per the report.
Earlier this week at the NFL Scouting Combine, 49ers general manager John Lynch confirmed reports stating Samuel requested a trade. Lynch said the team planned to "honor" the request.
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Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium Oct. 1, 2023, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
"He’s asked for a fresh start, and I think we’re going to honor that," Lynch said Wednesday.
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Samuel spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the 49ers after the team selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
He earned first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection after he finished the 2021 season with a career-high 1,405 receiving yards. Samuel and the Niners reached an agreement on a three-year contract extension after that standout season.
Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers reacts in the end zone before the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Samuel missed two games during the 2024 season, but he experienced a noticeable drop-off in production when he did play. He finished the year with 670 receiving yards and 136 rushing yards as San Francisco stumbled to a disappointing 6-11 record.
Samuel spoke to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan about being traded during the offseason and later had a conversation with Lynch.
San Francisco 49ers General Manager John Lynch congratulates Deebo Samuel #19 after a win against the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
"Then, he came up and talked with me, and we had a very honest and frank conversation," Lynch said. "He told us his reasons. I asked him to sit on it, sleep on it and we’d do the same. We did, and we told him he could go talk to people."
The deal cannot become official until March 12, the start of the new league year.
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While Samuel has likely played his last game in a 49ers uniform, San Francisco's wide receiver room could soon lose another key player. Lynch admitted other teams have contacted the 49ers about Brandon Aiyuk, who missed 10 games this past season due to a torn ACL.
Lynch added that San Francisco is listening to the inquires about the All-Pro receiver.
"Yeah, that typically happens with really good players," Lynch said earlier this week, via 49ers Webzone. "I remember, I think two years ago, having similar conversations. You get calls, and you always listen to calls."
Aiyuk and the 49ers reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension shortly before the start of the 2024 regular season. If Aiyuk does ultimately leave, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing would be the 49ers top remaining receivers.