49ers grant Deebo Samuel permission to seek a trade; ‘I have to do what’s best,’ says Deebo

The San Francisco 49ers have granted wide receiver Deebo Samuel and his agent permission to seek a trade, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Samuel reportedly requested a trade during his exit meetings with the team after the season.

"It was a hard conversation to have with [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] because of the relationship that we have," Samuel said on Sunday. "But I have to do what's best. I'm more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, but now I think it's best that we find another team."

NFL insider Ian Rapoport was the first to report that the 49ers were expected to explore trade options for the star receiver.

Samuel and the 49ers are coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign. The team finished 6-11, and Samuel endured one of his least productive seasons, tallying just 806 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns—his lowest totals since an injury-plagued 2020 season.

Samuel is entering the final year of the three-year extension he signed in 2022. He's set to count $15.87 million against the salary cap in 2025.

"The 49ers restructured Samuel's contract in September, a move that means if the Niners were to trade or release him before June 1, 2025, they would have to absorb a $31.55 million dead money hit on the cap," ESPN wrote. "If they move on from him with a post-June 1 designation before his March 23 option bonus is due, they could decrease that number to cap hits of $10,751,753 over the next couple of years."

When asked after the season if Samuel would remain with the team, general manager John Lynch expressed optimism about keeping him.

"A good player and has done a ton for this organization," Lynch said. "We're not in the business of letting good players out of here."

The 49ers signed wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million contract extension ahead of last season and added receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of last year's draft.