Deebo Samuel is going to get paid. The only question is who will be cutting the checks.
According to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Samuel wants to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. That title currently belongs to Tyreek Hill, who signed a 4-year, $120 million contract with the Miami Dolphins after being traded from the Kansas City Chiefs.
49ers WR Deebo Samuel wants to be the highest paid non quarterback because of his impact and versatility. Who can argue after what he did in 2021?
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 7, 2022
Who can blame Samuel? He put the 49ers on his back and carried them to the NFC Championship game in 2021.
Here are three reasons why the 49ers should break the bank for Deebo Samuel.
1. Samuel is the second-best receiver to play for the 49ers over the last 42 years.
When it comes to the wide receivers I’ve seen play for the 49ers, only Jerry Rice is better than Deebo Samuel.
As a rookie, Samuel had more receptions than Rice and recorded the second-most receiving yards of a rookie wide receiver in team history. Samuel backed that up in 2021, setting a new franchise record in receiving yards through the first seven weeks. When the 49ers moved Samuel to running back and reduced his targets prior to week 10 against Los Angeles, the third-year receiver was on pace to finish with over 1,800 yards which would have ranked second to, you guessed it, Jerry Rice.
What about Terrell Owens?
Samuel has been better through his first three seasons with the 49ers than Owens.
Through their first three seasons, Samuel has more receptions (167-162) and receiving yards (2,598-2,558) than Owens despite having fewer targets (265-246). Samuel also didn’t have a future Hall of Fame quarterback throwing to him.
If Samuel stays with the 49ers for the next five seasons, there’s little doubt he will surpass the numbers put up by Owens during his time in San Francisco.
2. Samuel is a rising talent.
The wide receivers who have received big contracts this offseason, such as Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and Stefon Diggs, all have a long track record of success, and their contracts take them past their prime.
Samuel, on the other hand, is a player on the rise. The track record of success isn’t there; however, the talent is undeniable.
As mentioned above, in two of Samuel’s first three seasons, he has put up numbers not far behind the best wide receiver in the history of the NFL.
Spending big money on players during their prime years makes more sense than waiting until they are on the downside of their careers.
3. Take advantage of the rookie quarterback salary.
The trades of wide receivers Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill show why the 49ers are in a unique position to make it possible to give Samuel the big-money deal he is seeking.
Green Bay and Kansas City have starting quarterbacks who will take up over $28 million and $35 million in salary-cap space in 2022.
On the other hand, San Francisco will have its quarterback taking up roughly $28 million in salary cap over the next three years, with a salary cap increasing dramatically in 2024 due to the new television deal.
With Lance taking up so little space and an additional $25 million in salary cap opening when the team moves from Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco can front-load a deal for Samuel. Doing this will also allow the 49ers the flexibility to sign Nick Bosa to a long-term extension.
Last season, Trey Lance completed three passes of 40-plus yards in his limited playing time. Of those three completions, two went to Deebo Samuel for touchdowns. If the duo can keep that rate going for an entire season, the 49ers offense will reach heights not seen since the franchise’s glory days.
Give him $25 million per year. In a couple years he’ll be underpaid relative to other top receivers.
In a couple years this dude might be on the back end of his career.
Exactly this. Clearly, a body can only take so much pounding. There is no way for him to keep up his “beyond limits” output of 2021. Moreover, he was injured his first two years, a predictor of future body fragility. I just don’t believe his body is going to last the next three years because his will is so strong. He’s the most exciting player on a team full of unicorns (Bosa, Warner, Kittle, we’ll see about Trey). God bless Deebo though. His brain, body and heart. Paraphrasing Mick, I hope he gets what he needs. There is absolutely no way Parag will give him over $25 per and/or make him the highest paid non-QB.
Guarantied money is cash up front that has to be put into escrow to be paid to the player when each guarantied step comes due. For the York’s that money is then out of their control. The 49ers are one of the better teams in their use of guaranteed money.
Kittle’s negotiation was contentious until it became time for him to put his health at risk and start doing physical football the first day of training camp. Then both sides found common ground. The pandemic rules for the NFL that year prevented any earlier team training. Deebo doesn’t have that protection from injury. Deebo want’s a contract before he participates in any physical team activities.
With the loopholes in cap rules, any NFL team can get under the cap if they want a given player enough. The 49ers can make cap moves to extend Deebo and Nick and they don’t have to increase their “Deebo/Nick” cap hit for 2022.
John Taylor was better – forget the stat comparisons, totally different eras. JT was a beast, SO underrated.
JT was a great receiver, a quiet leader and a great kick-off returner. Deebo has that whiney, irresponsible mien. He has been a disappointment in the offseason. Don’t grossly overpay him. He has had some good stats over a short period of time.
“Deebo has that whiney, irresponsible mien. He has been a disappointment in the offseason”
Ummm, what????. If wanting a raise equals whining, then the NFL is full of whiners – just like every other sport – just like every other occupation. But let’s be clear, there is such a thing as super annoying whiners.