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Alex Ciulla looks at the post-draft landscape for a Deebo Samuel trade. Which NFL teams may be willing to trade for the 49ers superstar WR?
The NFL Draft was a whirlwind, swirling with a bevy of trades and some peculiar picks -- particularly early on -- and with 35 rookie wide receivers selected, murky team depth charts are gaining clarity. One situation, however, still bears monitoring.
Curiously, the San Francisco 49ers used their first-round pick (31st overall) to select Ricky Pearsall -- WR out of Florida. The selection of Pearsall also brought the news that the 49ers are now more likely to trade Deebo Samuel instead of Brandon Aiyuk.
Before taking a WR in the first round, I would have said the 49ers probably keep them both -- but there's a legitimate chance that Samuel gets shipped in the coming weeks. Deebo is one of the best in the league after the catch and can instantly impact any team with his versatile skill set. Let's see where he might make a good fit.
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h/t @dmrussini pic.twitter.com/gsp1cW90jc
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) April 27, 2024
New England Patriots
The Patriots spent a few picks in the draft at WR -- using a second-round selection on Ja'Lynn Polk and then a fourth on Javon Baker. Despite these additions, they could desperately use a dynamic playmaker to deploy along their newly minted first-round pick -- Drake Maye. New England also has the most cap space in the league currently -- allowing it to take on the contract of Samuel. He's projected to have a cap hit upward of $28 million.
The #49ers have taken trade calls on Deebo Samuel however @Schultz_Report is reporting the #Bills & #Patriots are “highly unlikely” to trade for the All-Pro wideout pic.twitter.com/aML1Y3dDUv
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) April 26, 2024
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers scooped up two receivers for themselves in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Deebo Samuel would serve them well, too. Even if we factor in selecting Ladd McConkey and Brenden Rice -- another son of a Hall of Famer in 2024 -- Quentin Johnston flopped epically his rookie year, and that was with a sizeable opportunity. There is a non-zero chance he develops further, but L.A. seems like a team starving for veteran help. The Chargers also have decent cap space -- seventh most in the league -- so this puts them firmly in the conversation. They may have to do some finagling, though.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The third team on this list is second in cap space -- the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville spent a high pick (23rd overall) on Brian Thomas Jr. -- the consensus fourth WR in this class -- hoping to give its passing game some juice. I expect he will aid them and Christian Kirk was fine last year, but they need a true No. 1 target. Some suspect Thomas Jr. can be that, while others do not -- so that remains to be seen. In the meantime, it feels like the clock is ticking on Trevor Lawrence, and they need help in the pass-catching department after Calvin Ridley left for Tennessee.
DEEBO WAS RUNNINNNNN @19problemz
📺 #LARvsSF on @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/ca842lL7ZJ
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 4, 2022
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