At the NFL Combine, John Lynch addressed the proverbial 'elephant in the room,' Deebo Samuel's trade request.
During his end-of-year press conference, general manager John Lynch made it clear the San Francisco 49ers weren't interested in moving on from All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
"We’re not in the business of letting good players go here." Lynch said when asked about possibly moving Samuel after a down year.
Around that same time, though, Samuel privately told the Niners he wished to be moved, and the news of his exit-interview request went public during the day of Super Bowl 59, coming as a shock to many.
Unlike Samuel's previous trade request early in 2022, which ultimately led to a lucrative contract extension, it appears the 49ers will react differently this go-around.
Subsequent reports pointed at a rift between Samuel and San Francisco, which hinted at the possibility the 49ers would somehow honor the wide receiver's request.
Addressing the media during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, it appears Lynch is backing up that notion.
John Lynch changes his tune on Deebo Samuel, says 49ers will try to 'honor' request
During his combine presser, Lynch was asked about the situation with Samuel.
Despite pointing out how the offensive weapon and the franchise are still "on good terms," Lynch also indicated the two parties are poised to go their separate ways in the immediate future:
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At the NFL Combine, John Lynch addressed the proverbial 'elephant in the room,' Deebo Samuel's trade request.
During his end-of-year press conference, general manager John Lynch made it clear the San Francisco 49ers weren't interested in moving on from All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
"We’re not in the business of letting good players go here." Lynch said when asked about possibly moving Samuel after a down year.
Around that same time, though, Samuel privately told the Niners he wished to be moved, and the news of his exit-interview request went public during the day of Super Bowl 59, coming as a shock to many.
Unlike Samuel's previous trade request early in 2022, which ultimately led to a lucrative contract extension, it appears the 49ers will react differently this go-around.
Subsequent reports pointed at a rift between Samuel and San Francisco, which hinted at the possibility the 49ers would somehow honor the wide receiver's request.
Addressing the media during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, it appears Lynch is backing up that notion.
John Lynch changes his tune on Deebo Samuel, says 49ers will try to 'honor' request
During his combine presser, Lynch was asked about the situation with Samuel.
Despite pointing out how the offensive weapon and the franchise are still "on good terms," Lynch also indicated the two parties are poised to go their separate ways in the immediate future:
"He's asked for a fresh start, and I think we're going to honor that," Lynch clarified. "I don't like seeing great players [leave], and he is a great player. I think often he's one of my favorite draft picks of all time."
Of course, there are challenges facing such a departure. An outright trade would cost the Niners over $31 million in dead money, according to Over the Cap, yet San Francisco could at least receive something in return while having a say in where he lands.
A release with a post-June 1 designation, however, would still cost $10.7 million in dead money in 2024 but would generate over $27 million in cap space over the next two years. But Samuel could come back to haunt the 49ers if he signed with a rival.
Either way, it appears the full separation of the two parties is imminent, and Lynch pretty much revealed as much.
