The San Francisco 49ers have some key roster maneuvers to work through this offseason. Brock Purdy's contract extension is atop their list as the Niners and their quarterback look to secure his future with the franchise.
However, they will need to hit the right number for Purdy, a current challenge given much of their assets are tied to other players on the team. Just last season, Brandon Aiyuk and Deommodore Lenoir both got their own extensions while players like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner also hold big contracts on the books.
To get to a place where they can comfortably negotiate, the Niners need to clear some room. For a while now, Deebo Samuel has been thought of a potential piece that could be on the chopping block for San Francisco.
As of Sunday, those speculations are now reality. The Niners have agreed to let their star receiver seek out a trade, this time granting a wish that was denied a few years ago.
According to ESPN, the Niners allowed Samuel and his team to seek a trade following his exit meeting with head coach Kyle Shanahan in January.
"It was a hard conversation to have with Kyle because of the relationship that we have," Samuel told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "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."
It is an unfortunate ending to Samuel's tenure in the place where he broke out into stardom. But a move from San Francisco makes sense in more ways that just the Niners finding room to extend their quarterback.
San Francisco signed fellow wideout Aiyuk to a four-year $120 million extension before the start of last season. Samuel has one year left on his deal and there is little need for the Niners to stretch themselves further spending on the wide receiver with an already respectable core of Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall.
Moving now gives them a chance to cash in some value rather than losing him for nothing.
For Samuel, it became pretty clear throughout this season that a new destination could be in play for him. His own on-field struggles combined with the suddenly crowded receiver room spelled his exit perfectly clear.
As of now, there are no suitors lined up for him, but that is bound to change once Samuel begins to seek out a new team.
