San Francisco 49ers fans are not prepared for another DeForest Buckner scenario. Knowing the two sides weren't going to agree on a contract extension, the 49ers traded away their fan-favorite star defender and locker room leader to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a first-round pick.
Buckner went on to earn first-team All-Pro honors and make another Pro Bowl, recording 16.5 sacks in two seasons with the Colts while the 49ers continue to struggle to replace his productivity. Javon Kinlaw, the defensive tackle San Francisco selected with the draft pick acquired for Buckner, might end up being that guy, but he has yet to prove that.
Now, the 49ers find themselves needing to pay another star player—wide receiver Deebo Samuel. It hasn't helped that several receivers have cashed in this offseason, skyrocketing Samuel's value. The 49ers won't get the star receiver at a discount. They'll need to devote significant cash to keep Samuel happy and in Santa Clara.
Meanwhile, Samuel has raised eyebrows by scrubbing his Instagram account of anything 49ers-related, including all game-day photos. In addition, a black circle replaced the image of Samuel in his 49ers uniform that was once his profile picture.
Tim Kawakami of The Athletic recently identified a key date to keep an eye on regarding the Samuel situation—day one of the 2022 NFL Draft.
"If the 49ers aren't prepared to eventually pay Deebo at or near the top of the WR market," wrote Kawakami, "I believe he'll be traded before April 28, the first round of the draft, for a package that would include a first-round pick in this draft that the 49ers would immediately use on a WR. I don't expect that, though.
"If the 49ers trade Deebo, that's a surrender, the likes of which we have not previously seen from the Shanahan/Lynch duo. A total surrender.
"But if Deebo is still on this roster at the end of April 28, I believe that'll be a large hint that the 49ers feel like they can and will get this done. That they know what it'll take to sign him and they are prepared to pay it. Maybe not anytime soon, but by the first camp practice."
Kawakami adds that April 28 is crucial because teams want to trade their valuable assets while immediately bringing in a replacement. The 49ers thought they were doing that with Buckner—avoiding the big payday while adding a lower-cost defensive tackle.
Trading Samuel after the draft, waiting an entire season to utilize the compensation, and not even knowing where those picks will fall in the future draft order is not as enticing. So if Samuel is still on the team after April 28, it's likely that the 49ers intend to make sure that doesn't change.
"April 28, that's the real Deebo deadline," Kawakami added.