Santa Clara, California – When the San Francisco 49ers prepared for the free agency and the NFL design last year, there was a subtle but unmistakable feeling that Wide Receiver was a sneaky squad requirement.
On Saturday, the 49s agreed to exchange Widmout Debo Samuel Sr. for the Washington commanders in exchange for a selection in the fifth round and are now in a similar situation, although this time there is nothing under.
Although a Samuel trade felt inevitable, since he requested it in his meeting at the end of the season, General Manager John Lynch, who has been called Samuel since his takeover of Samuel since his takeover, has not been one of his favorite draft committees.
“There is a lot of love there,” said Lynch at the NFL Combine this week. “There is a lot of respect there. There are many common experiences, so it is difficult to let go. But time happens, and if it makes sense for both sides, give it at least one chance.”
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After Samuel should wear a different jersey for the first time in his career, the Trade Bump Wide receiver increases the list of needs outside of the season for the Niners. And although it may be below and repair the offensive and defensive lines, it is not far behind.
The 49s have five recipients – Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Trent Taylor – who got a passport for her in 2024 in 2024.
Within this group, Aiyuk released a torn ACL and MCL in its right knee.
Remove Samuel from this group and the return recipient of San Francisco for 70 receptions for 1,024 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, which means that Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan have enough work.
Before this happens, the 49s have to get the status of Aiyuk under control. After a Roller-Coaster contract negotiation last summer, which contained its own trade request and a handful of almost deals, Aiyuk signed a four-year extension of $ 120 million before the season.
This is the contract of a recipient No. 1, and Aiyuk will cope with this role if it returns from his knee injury. Of course, the Niners don't yet know when that will be.
Aiyuk suffered the knee injury in the event of an October loss against the Kansas City Chiefs after a slow start to the season. Lynch said Aiyuk is “good”, but that he will soon be with Dr. Neal Elattrache should hit an update.
“He does the work,” said Lynch. “You have to do that. And I have always said that the real top-end athletes heal a little faster, and I think that also starts with Brandon, but at some point there is a big test. … We'll see where that is lying.”
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Deebo Samuel Touchdowns from last season
Take a look at all four TouchDowns from Debo Samuel with the 49s last season when he went to the commander in a trade.
Until Aiyuk returns, the Niners hope that Jennings can continue to carry the freight. Jennings has his best NFL season behind and publish career height in reception (77), yards (975) and touchdowns (six). He took the 10th place in Yards Pro Route (2.51) and had a drop of what Shanahan sees as one of the best blocks in the league.
“I have proven that I just never give up,” said Jennings. “First quarter, the fourth quarter, the first snap. Snap. JJ just never gives up.”
In 2025, Jennings was accepted against the upper limit of $ 4.258 million in the last year of the two-year extension of $ 15.39 million. If he gives a strong encore, he could evaluate his contract from the future plans of San Francisco.
For this reason, Pearsall's development will be one of the most important Niners storylines in the 2025 season. Pearsall had a slow start as a rookie after most of the training camps cost him most of the training camp, and then he was shot into his chest in a suspected robbery in San Francisco before the season.
Pearsall missed the first six games on the list of reserve/non-football injuries and only achieved his first touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaners in week 10. But he flashed the potential that made him number 31 last year when he achieved 18 receptions for 247 yards and two points in the past three weeks.
The 49s hope that a complete low season will position him to achieve a starting role and make a considerable leap in the second year.
What should know for the NFL design of 2025
• Mocks: Kiper | Yates | Müller | Pouring
• Ranking lists: Kiper | Müller | Yates | Pouring
• QB board | Pos. Ranks | 10 questions
• Select order | Scouting Evals | More
“I am definitely looking forward to building on things that I stopped and continued to grow as a player,” said Pearsall in January. “And now I know what is expected. I will no longer be a newcomer, so nothing will be really new, so I will definitely grow.”
But even if Jennings and Pearsall build up the last season, the 49s as players are on the recipient market in the free agency and try to add the draft more. The Niners are expected to have 11 picks this year, which previously have compensatory options. Midmarket veterans such as Robert Woods, Darius Slayton and Amari Cooper could make sense depending on the costs of their contracts.
What should know for the NFL design of 2025
• Mocks: Kiper | Yates | Müller | Pouring
• Ranking lists: Kiper | Müller | Yates | Pouring
• QB board | Pos. Ranks | 10 questions
• Select order | Scouting Evals | More
And although it is unlikely that you would use your first selection – No. 11 – for a recipient, it is not out of the possibility that it is a wide angle like Arizonas Tetairoa McMillan if he is the best player on the board when it is the 49er to choose the turn.
Others, such as the Luther Burden III of Missouri and the Tre Harris of Mississippi, could be fascinating options in round 2 or with a slight promotion to the first round.
Last year the 49 signed the veterans Chris Conley and Taylor and designed Pearsall and Cowing in the first and fourth round.
If Samuel is gone, it will not be a surprise if the Niners will follow a similar plan in the coming weeks.
