If the San Francisco 49ers grant Deebo Samuel’s trade request, these five teams would be the best landing spots for both parties.
Deebo Samuel reportedly wants out from the San Francisco 49ers. If the team decides to help him pack, he’s likely going to have a litany of suitors after him. Let’s run down the most-logical ones.
5. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are being placed at the top of many sportsbooks as a favorite to land Samuel, so they land on the list. However, it’s going to be very tough for general manager Chris Ballard to make a move. Why? Although the Colts have a ton of cap space now and into the future, they are without a first-round pick. Most offers coming in for Samuel will include one, making any deal from Indy’s standpoint a hard negotiation from the jump.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Don’t sleep on Philadelphia. General manager Howie Roseman is one of the best in football, and he’s armed with multiple first-round picks both in 2022 and ’23. Furthermore, the Eagles need another weapon for quarterback Jalen Hurts, who currently has Devonta Smith on the perimeter and not much else. Putting Samuel and Smith together would be an elite duo, causing teams to drop two safeties and opening up the run game, including Hurts on the options and RPOs.
3. New York Jets
Now we’re getting into the heavy hitters. It’s well-documented the Jets trued to land Tyreek Hill last month but struck out, with the perennial Pro Bowl receiver going to the Miami Dolphins instead. With Nos. 4 and 10 overall, would New York surrender the latter choice to get Samuel? General manager Joe Douglas may need to do so in order to land Samuel. If he does, the Jets are in the driver’s seat, but to this point, there’s not a clear indication he’s willing to go that far.
2. Green Bay Packers
The Packers have multiple picks in the first and second rounds, and have cap space to bring in Samuel with. Of course, Green Bay is in desperate need for a receiver after losing Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason. For the Packers, bringing Samuel into Lambeau would change the entire tenor of the last few months.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs make sense on every level. They have cap space, a huge need after trading away Hill, multiple picks in each of the first four rounds of the upcoming draft — and a league-high 12 in total — and have an offense tailor-made to have Samuel repeat his All-Pro campaign. The Chiefs mayn’t want to acquire Samuel, instead going for younger talent in the draft to maintain financial flexibility. But if Kansas City wants the star receiver, it has the ingredients.
